Blog
See what Richard has to say and keep track of the mission.


SEPTEMBER 28, 2008
Cleared for Liftoff!
After a lazy Monday, Tuesday began our major round of symbolic activities in Moscow. We began in the White Hall of the government’s administration building, where we were re-introduced and our t . . . » CONTINUE READING



SEPTEMBER 19, 2008
Final Exams
The week began with a briefing about the packing and storage of items we will be taking with us in the Soyuz. While I am now done with classes, there are still lots of preparations to complete before . . . » CONTINUE READING
SEPTEMBER 15, 2008
Final Launch Preparations
My father and his partner Rob Rouleau spent Monday through Thursday this week at Energia, reviewing all of the documentation for our protein crystal growth (PCG) experiment. While there, they made man . . . » CONTINUE READING
SEPTEMBER 12, 2008
Abandon Ship, the ISS is Burning!

The prototypes for my Soyuz TMA 13 patch arrived this week, just in time for our official crew photos! I am proud that I got the chance to participate in their creation, . . . » CONTINUE READING

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008
Back to Work

This week (August 18-24) we are performing what I sure hope is the final round of medical exams. I peed in cups, gave blood, wore heart and blood-pressure monitors for 24 . . . » CONTINUE READING

SEPTEMBER 08, 2008
Relative Rest (Then Back to Work!)
Compared with the madness and joy of the previous few weeks, this one (August 11-15) has seen relative calm return to my life. About a third of my classes have been self-study, which for me meant catc . . . » CONTINUE READING



SEPTEMBER 02, 2008
Visiting Kaluga, the Mecca for Cosmonauts
Kaluga is like Mecca for cosmonauts, being the hometown of one of my new heroes, Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky. While people like Jules Verne wrote fantasies about how to get to the moon, Tsiolkovsky actu . . . » CONTINUE READING



SEPTEMBER 02, 2008
Arriving at GCTC for the Final Push!
Okay, I know I have been saying how eventful recent weeks have been… well, they keep getting more so!

The main focus for my first week back in Russia was preparing for . . . » CONTINUE READING

SEPTEMBER 02, 2008
Cherishing Friends and Family Before the Final Leg of My Space Adventure

There is something about being home for the final time preflight that is bringing out my emotional side. Everything is taking on added significance: sleeping in my own bed, showering in my own show . . . » CONTINUE READING