ALMATY, Kazakhstan, April 13 (UPI) -- A rocket with a Soyuz spacecraft aboard was on a launchpad at Baikonur in Kazakhstan Wednesday, ready to carry a new crew to the International Space Station.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut John Phillips, Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev and the European Space Agency's Roberto Vittori are scheduled to take off from the Baikonur cosmodrome Thursday and dock with the ISS two days later, the Russian ITAR-TASS news agency said.
Krikalev, 46, was chosen to head the expedition. Phillips, 53, will be flight engineer and also will perform the role of ISS science officer. Both men will spend six months on the station, replacing NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao and Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov. Vittori is to return 10 days later.
The Russian Interfax news agency reported the crew's food menu includes meat, fish, various soups, rye bread, tea, coffee and juices. The men will not drink alcohol during the expedition.
