Departing Space Station Commander Sunita Williams Provides Tour of Orbital Laboratory (video)

Here are some images of the next Soyuz crew in training:
[link to forum.nasaspaceflight.com]
TMA-07M will replace TMA-05M's docking slot on ISS after they launch in December. TMA-06M remains aboard in the meantime with US astronaut Kevin Ford in command.

Just wondering...why did they NOT wait for the next crew then depart in that device? Why did they depart so "unannounced" in the only escape pod? Did the only woman on board get "evacuated?"

Just correct my thinking if you have some answers I can swallow. thanks

Because there's only two docking ports on ISS dedicated for Soyuz docking (two others are reserved for unmanned cargo vessels to come and go).

It wasn't unannounced, from a year before they launched it was scheduled to depart when it did:
[link to web.archive.org]
It is also not the only "escape pod," and they always take a Soyuz back to earth. TMA-05M left, TMA-06M remains docked to ISS with the other 3 crew members. I already said this, I won't say it again, I'm not here to debunk. I'd ask you to send me questions by PM, but you don't have a star so since you asked, that's the answer. This is how crew changes always work now post-shuttle.

*My bad, I see you do have a star. I'll PM the answer next time. My bad.

Last Edited by Dr. Astro on 11/20/2012 04:55 PM

Very interesting, Thank you.

Oh, yes. A free and open world depends on a free and open web. And a free and open web depends on me.

That just plain ROCKED!!!!! Thank you OP!!!!!!

Thanks for the information. You have something to add on video Sunita Williams ?

Thank you. Yes, this was...well, very interesting indeed! :-).

It's very cool, just bumping your thread with some info about the follow-on crew. Ford's in command now after Suni, and after him a Canadian will assume command...

Tks :-).

Well that was a neat little tour.

Thanks for posting the video OP.

Ya, great stuff Astro. Thanks. I love the hardware!