posted 10-10-2009 09:09 AM               

During a symbolic change of command ceremony on Friday, Oct. 10, Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka handed control of the International Space Station over to European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Frank De Winne.

De Winne will officially become the first European ISS commander on Saturday when Padalka and flight engineer Michael Barratt undock from the station on-board Soyuz TMA-14 with spaceflight participant Guy Laliberté.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, ESA will host an inflight media event from the Columbus Control Centre near Munich, Germany, to mark De Winne's new position as Expedition 21 commander.

posted 10-13-2009 12:09 PM               

New Station Commander Honored by European Dignitaries

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 21 Commander Frank De Winne was honored in becoming the first European Space Agency commander of the orbiting laboratory in an in-flight event Oct. 13, 2009, involving European dignitaries gathered at ESA's Columbus Control Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.

De Winne, who arrived at the station as an ISS Expedition 20 flight engineer in May, is scheduled to return to Earth on Dec. 1 after six months in space.