Expedition 18

Expedition 18 is the 18th expedition to the International Space Station (ISS). The first two crew members, Michael Fincke, and Salizhan Sharipov are scheduled for launch in October 2008, aboard Soyuz TMA-13.

If STS-126 launches on schedule, they will be joined by Sandra Magnus from JAXA, who will be launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on October 9, 2008.

Expedition 18 will be the final three-crewmember expedition, before the ISS crew is increased to six astronauts and cosmonauts with Expedition 19, which may be commanded by Sergei Krikalyov who has recently been promoted to a Vice President of RKK Energia.

Crew

First part (September to October 2008)

• Michael Fincke (2) Commander - United States
• Salizhan Sharipov (3) Flight Engineer, Soyuz Commander - Russia
• Gregory Chamitoff (1) - Flight Engineer - United States
• Richard Garriot (1) - Spaceflight Participant- United States

Second part (October 2008 to January 2009)

• Michael Fincke (2) Commander - United States
• Salizhan Sharipov (3) Flight Engineer, Soyuz Commander - Russia
• Sandra Magnus* (2) - Flight Engineer - United States

Third part (January 2009 to April 2009)

• Michael Fincke (2) Commander - United States
• Salizhan Sharipov (3) Flight Engineer, Soyuz Commander - Russia
• Koichi Wakata‡ (3) - Flight Engineer - Japan

*Participation in Expedition 18 is contingent upon the launch of STS-126.

‡Participation in Expedition 18 is contingent upon the launch of STS-119.

(#) number of spaceflights each crew member has completed, including this mission.

Back-up crew

• Yuri Lonchakov - Commander - Russia
• Michael Barratt- Flight Engineer - U.S.A.
• Nicole Stott - Flight Engineer - U.S.A. (for Magnus)
• Soichi Noguchi - Flight Engineer - Japan (for Wakata)
• Timothy Creamer - Flight Engineer - U.S.A. (for Chamitoff)

Source

• NASA Announces Three International Space Station Crews