Expedition 50 Crew Hands Over the Space Station to Expedition 51

TL;DR

Expedition 50 handed command of the International Space Station to Expedition 51, with Dr. Peggy Whitson becoming its first two-time female commander. The outgoing crew reflected on almost six months in orbit, thanked family, friends, and global ground teams, and highlighted four spacewalks, three cargo vehicles, visiting-vehicle operations, and extensive science work. Read on for the ceremony’s key achievements and acknowledgments.

Transcript

okay houston and everybody welcome to the change of command ceremony between expeditions 50 and 51. uh crews are behind me here uh we're ready to do this thing and uh get expedition 50 off of here so 51 can enjoy their experience even more but we've had a great time up here it's been an amazing experience for almost six months now for andre and ser... Read More

Key Insights

• 💋 The ceremony marks the change of command between Expeditions 50 and 51 on the International Space Station.
• 😑 The astronauts express their gratitude to their support teams, including mission control centers in Houston, Huntsville, Munich, and Moscow.
• 📽️ The outgoing crew had the opportunity to interact with projects that benefit all of humanity, providing a sense of fulfillment and humbleness.
• 🕵️‍♀️ Dr. Peggy Whitson becomes the first two-time female commander of the International Space Station.
• 🍵 Expedition 50 was highly successful, conducting four spacewalks and handling cargo-related tasks efficiently.
• 👾 The crew members of Expeditions 50 and 51 had a strong bond during their time together on the space station.
• 🧑‍🚀 The astronauts acknowledge the immense support received from their families and friends throughout their training and mission.

Questions & Answers

Q: What happened during the Expedition 50-to-Expedition 51 change of command?

Expedition 50 formally transferred command of the International Space Station to Expedition 51. Dr. Peggy Whitson assumed command, and the ceremony concluded with the announcement that Expedition 51 was in charge.

Q: Who assumed command of the International Space Station for Expedition 51?

Dr. Peggy Whitson assumed command of the International Space Station. The outgoing commander said the station was in great hands with Peggy.

Q: What record did Dr. Peggy Whitson set during the ceremony?

Dr. Peggy Whitson became the first two-time female commander of the International Space Station. The record was announced as command passed from Expedition 50 to Expedition 51.

Q: How long had the departing Expedition 50 crew been in space?

The speaker said that he, Andre, and Serge had been aboard for almost six months. They had shared about four and a half months of that time with Peggy, Taman, and Alig.

Q: What did Expedition 50 accomplish aboard the space station?

Expedition 50 conducted four spacewalks and grappled visiting vehicles. The crew also packed and unpacked three cargo vehicles in relatively short order and completed an extensive amount of science.

Q: Why did the Expedition 50 crew describe the mission as humbling?

The crew felt they were part of something bigger than themselves and bigger than any single nation. They could interact with work that benefits all of humanity, which made the experience humbling and special.

Q: Which ground teams did the Expedition 50 crew thank?

The crew thanked mission control teams in Houston, Huntsville, Munich, Japan, and Moscow, Russia. They also recognized the people who made the equipment, trained the astronauts, and worked many hours to support the mission.

Q: How did the crew describe their time together aboard the ISS?

The departing astronauts said they learned a great deal from the Expedition 51 crew members and enjoyed their time together. Another crew member described the crew, commander, and ground support positively and said the mission created unforgettable memories aboard the ISS.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Astronauts from Expeditions 50 and 51 hold a change of command ceremony on the International Space Station.

• The outgoing crew of Expedition 50 reflects on their nearly six-month-long experience and expresses gratitude to their support teams.

• Dr. Peggy Whitson assumes command of the International Space Station, becoming the first two-time female commander.