Work of Russian-American expedition aboard iss nearing completion

The work of the 5th permanent Russian-American expedition aboard the International Space Station /ISS/ is nearing its end. On November 13, the shuttle Endeavour will dock at the ISS with the next, 6th, permanent expedition, and on November 19 the same shuttle will take the 5th expedition back to Earth, RIA Novosti was told at Russia's Mission Control Centre.

The new expedition comprises of two Russian cosmonauts -- commander Valery Korzun and flight engineer Sergei Treshchyov -- and the US astronaut Peggy Witson, a research worker. This is going to be the longest expedition to the ISS -- by the time it goes back its working stay aboard the station will have reached 160 days. It was noted at the centre that extending the period of stay was due to a month and a half delay in the blasting of the American shuttle towards the ISS, because some malfunctions were detected on these spacecraft.

Specialists estimate the expedition's work as highly professional and productive. They carried out 28 scientific and technical experiments: 6 new ones and 22 projects initiated by previous expeditions.