Born: Syzran, Russia

Interests: mountaineering 

Spaceflights: Exps. 23 and 24

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/Tg0ksk

Mikhail Kornienko (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(Kor-knee-EHN-koh)

Born: Orange, New Jersey

Interests: racquetball, running, water sports and 

weight lifting 

Spaceflights: STS-103, STS-118, Exps. 25 and 26

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/SbcMZD 

Twitter: @StationCDRKelly

Instagram: stationcdrkelly

Scott Kelly (NASA) – Flight Engineer

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

International Space Station

EXPEDITION 45Expedition 45 began September 11, 2015 and ends December 22, 2015. This 

expedition includes human research, biology and biotechnology, astrophysics 

research, physical science investigations and education activities. Two spacewalks are tentatively planned during Expedition 45.

During Expedition 45, crew members will install equipment and conduct experiments that 

help researchers study dark matter and cosmic rays, investigate the interactions of flames 

on the motion and ignition of droplets, and assess the effects of spaceflight on chromosomal 

telomeres. Investigations like these demonstrate how space station crews help advance 

NASA's journey to Mars while making discoveries that can benefit all of humanity.

Soyuz TMA-17M Launch: July 22, 2015 • Landing: December 22, 2015 

THE CREW:

Soyuz TMA-16M Launch: March 27, 2015 • Landing: September 11, 2015 

Note: Kelly and Kornienko will remain aboard until March 2016. One taxi flight 

will occur during this mission. 

THE SCIENCE:

"What are 

some of the 

investigations 

the crew is 

working on?"

Born: Taipei, Taiwan

Interests: amateur astronomy, church activities, 

movies, photography, reading, running

Spaceflights: Exps. 44 and 45 mark his first missions

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1zx1vd4 

Twitter: @astro_kjell

Kjell Lindgren (NASA) – Flight Engineer

(CHELL LIND-grehn)

Born: Nagano, Japan

Interests: cycling, flying

Spaceflights: Exps. 44 and 45 mark his first missions

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1cnrCde

Twitter: @Astro_Kimiya

Kimiya Yui (JAXA) – Flight Engineer

(KIH-mee-yah YOO-we)

[MISSION SUMMARY]

Born: Chardzhow, Turkmenia

Interests: reading books, sports

Spaceflights: Exp. 17 

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1PpoRUM

Oleg Kononenko (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(AH-leg Koh-no-NEHN-koh)

Born: Chuguyev, Kharkov Region, Ukraine

Interests: sports, tennis, windsurfing, reading and 

museums 

Spaceflights: Exps. 17, 28 and 29 

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/10s4JYn

Twitter: @Volkov_ISS

Instagram: volkov_iss

Sergey Volkov (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(SIR-gay VOLL-koff)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov

NP-2015-08-025-JSC

International

Space Station

Mission

Summary

CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET)

This astrophysics mission uses specialized equipment to search for dark 

matter and measure cosmic rays to observe sources of high energy 

phenomena in the galaxy. CALET seeks to discover the answers to 

many high-energy astrophysics questions including the origin of cosmic 

rays, how cosmic rays accelerate and move across the galaxy, and the 

existence of dark matter and its relation to nearby cosmic ray sources. 

Once scientists take an inventory of the highest-energy radiation in space, 

they may be able to characterize the radiation environment experienced 

by humans and encountered by space electronics. This may help 

determine risk of exposure to this type of radiation.

■ Flame Extinguishment Experiment-2 JAXA (FLEX-2J) 

Fires burn differently in space, where fuels form spherical droplets 

and flames burn in a rounded form, rather than straight up. The Flame 

Extinguishment Experiment-2 JAXA (FLEX-2J) studies the interactions 

The Expedition 45 crew will conduct its journey of exploration and discovery from 

a summit rising from a foundation that was built by past generations of pioneers, 

scientists, engineers and explorers. This foundation is represented by the book of 

knowledge at the bottom of the patch. Curves radiate from the book representing 

the flow of knowledge - and the hard work, sacrifice and innovation that makes 

human spaceflight possible. The pages written during Expedition 45 will serve 

to benefit humanity on Earth and in space. The International Space Station is 

represented by a single bright star soaring over the Earth, illuminating a path to 

future, more distant destinations.

THE MISSION PATCH:

of flames on the motion and ignition (or non-ignition) of millimeter-sized 

droplets. Results can provide fundamental insight into the physics of fuel 

burning, which improves computer models designed to reduce emissions 

and improve fuel consumption efficiency in space and on Earth.

Assessing Telomere Lengths and Telomerase Activity in 

Astronauts (Telomeres)

Telomeres are "caps" on the ends of chromosomes that protect them 

from fraying, much like the end of a shoelace, and an enzyme, called 

telomerase, maintains their length. Telomeres shorten over time, 

and the rate at which 

this occurs can be 

increased by stress, 

leading to accelerated 

aging, cardiovascular 

disease, cancer, and 

an impaired immune 

system. The Telomeres 

investigation collects 

crew member blood 

samples to determine 

how telomeres and 

telomerase are affected 

by space travel. This 

research will help 

investigators better 

evaluate the impact 

of future space flight, 

specifically related to changes in telomere length and telomerase 

activity, and potential related health effects. 

A telomere is the end of a chromosome that 

protects the interior of a chromosome from 

damage during cell division. Each time a cell 

divides, telomeres become shorter. Eventually, 

telomeres become so short that the cell dies or 

becomes cancerous

The HTV5 CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) Flight Crew Interface Test 

(FCIT). CALET will search for signatures of dark matter and provide the highest 

energy direct measurements of the cosmic ray electron spectrum. 

NASA /PHOTO

CREDITS: DARRYL LEJA, NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH