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T O P I C R E V I E WTomBesides the Soyuz TMA-1 landing in May by Nikolai Budarin, were there any other Soyuz flights that were launched or landed by former Flight Engineers flying as Commanders for the first time.The reason why I ask is because a comment made by Ed Lu aboard the ISS when asked if he was confident about his upcoming landing in the Soyuz. His reply was that he felt confident adding that Melenchenko was an experienced Soyuz Pilot.RobonautNikolai Rukavishnikov in 1979 and Valery Kubasov in 1980 were flight engineers who commanded Soyuz missions to Salyut 6 on their third flights. Before Columbia another one may have commanded a Taxi flight. Also do not forget that the only Russian on the new crew to ISS, Alexander Kaleri, has flown as a flight engineer on his previous missions.Best wishesRob WoodpokeyThe TMA-2 they are returning in has the same software bug that TMA-1 has. TMA-3 has a patch. TMA-2 *may* come in ballistic, but I'm sure they are mentally prepared for that. The flight engineer issue is actually whether or not the Soyuz capsule is being flown by a Russian Air Force officer or a civilian. Budarin is civilian. Kaleri (civilian) added at a JSC news conference that the physics of manuvering a space capsule are not dependent on having stick time in a high performance jet. It's a physics problem that he (Kaleri) is more than capable of and Foale agreed. I think Foale even mumbled something like poppycock at the question of him not being Russian Air Force and commanding the Soyuz. I also believe that Kaleri and Foale are the first all civilian crew (no active or retired military). TomThanks, Rob and Pokey, for the very informative replies.Tom
Best wishesRob Wood
The flight engineer issue is actually whether or not the Soyuz capsule is being flown by a Russian Air Force officer or a civilian. Budarin is civilian. Kaleri (civilian) added at a JSC news conference that the physics of manuvering a space capsule are not dependent on having stick time in a high performance jet. It's a physics problem that he (Kaleri) is more than capable of and Foale agreed. I think Foale even mumbled something like poppycock at the question of him not being Russian Air Force and commanding the Soyuz.
I also believe that Kaleri and Foale are the first all civilian crew (no active or retired military).
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