National Aeronautics and Space Administration

International Space Station

EXPEDITION 40began May 13, 2014, and ends September 10, 2014. This expedition will include 

research projects focusing on human research, biology and biotechnology, Earth 

and space science, physical science investigations, technology demonstrations and educational activities. There are two Russian and 

three U.S. spacewalks planned during Expedition 40.

Earth remote sensing, an assessment of human behavior and performance 

and studies of animal biology and bone and muscle physiology define 

the research of Expedition 40. Other investigations include technology 

demonstrations, physical and space sciences and educational activities. 

Expedition 40 activities will help advance our body of scientific knowledge, 

leading to potential Earth benefits such as improved weather forecasts and 

human medical advancements. 

Born: Riga, Latvia

Interests: Physics

Spaceflights: Exps. 39 and 40 mark his first missions

Cosmonaut Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1iKiITW

Oleg Artemyev (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(AH’-leg Ar-tuh-MY-ev)

Soyuz TMA-13M • Launch: May 28, 2014 • Landing: November 2014

THE CREW:

Soyuz TMA-12M • Launch: March 25, 2014 • Landing: September 2014

THE SCIENCE:

"What are 

some of the 

investigations 

that the crew is 

working on?"

[MISSION SUMMARY]

Born: Künzelsau, Germany

Interests: Climbing, fencing, hiking, mountaineering, 

running, scuba diving, skydiving, snowboarding, 

swimming

Spaceflights: Exps. 40 and 41 mark his first missions

Twitter: @Astro_Alex

Astronaut Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1oMphcb

Alexander Gerst (ESA) – Flight Engineer 

(GHUR-st)

Born: Baltimore, Maryland

Interests: Education, golf, running, woodworking

Spaceflights: Exps. 40 and 41 mark his first missions

Twitter: @astro_reid

Astronaut Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1cRNLtH

Reid Wiseman (NASA) – Flight Engineer

(wize-man)

Born: Chelyabinsk, Russia

Interests: Fishing, reading, scuba diving, sports 

Spaceflights: Exps. 21, 22

Cosmonaut Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1oMpqfv

Maxim Suraev (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(Suh-RYE-ev)

Born: Schelkovo, Moscow Region, Russia

Interests: Diving, soccer, badminton, fishing, hunting, 

tourism

Spaceflights: Exps. 23, 24, 39

Cosmonaut Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1ilN4Oh

Alexander Skvortsov (Roscosmos) – Flight Engineer

(Skuh-VORT-soff)

Born: Syracuse, New York

Interests: Mountain biking, basketball, skiing, weight 

lifting, trail running, woodworking, spending time with 

family

Spaceflights: STS-117; STS-119; Exp. 39

Instagram: http://instagram.com/iss

Astronaut Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1bEdIAJ

Steve Swanson (NASA) – Commander

(SWAHN-son)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov

NP-2014-05-006-JSC

International

Space Station

Mission

Summary

n International Space Station-Rapid Scatterometer 

(ISS-RapidScat)

The ISS-RapidScat will monitor ocean winds from the ideal vantage point 

of the space station. This space-based scatterometer is a remote sensing 

instrument that uses radar pulses reflected from the ocean’s surface 

from different angles to calculate surface wind speed and direction. 

This information will be useful for weather forecasting and hurricane 

monitoring. 

In addition to improving weather models, the ISS-RapidScat instrument 

enhances measurements from other international scatterometers by 

cross-checking their data. Due to its unique orbit, ISS-RapidScat will 

observe different parts of the planet at different times of day, allowing 

the instrument to track the effects of the sun on ocean winds as the day 

progresses. Because the instrument reuses leftover hardware originally 

built to test parts of the now inoperable NASA QuikScat scatterometer, 

this investigation demonstrates a unique way to replace an instrument 

aboard an aging satellite.

The Expedition 40 patch depicts the past, present and future of human space exploration. The crew wrote the 

description that follows: The reliable and proven Soyuz, our ride to the International Space Station, is a part 

of the past, present and future. The space station is the culmination of an enormous effort by many countries 

partnering to produce a first-class orbiting laboratory, and its image represents the current state of space 

exploration. The space station is immensely significant to us as our home away from home and our oasis in 

the sky. The commercial cargo vehicle is also part of current human space exploration and is a link to the 

future. A blend of legacy and future technologies is being used to create the next spacecraft that will carry 

humans from our planet to destinations beyond. The sun on Earth's horizon represents the new achievements 

and technologies that will come about due to our continued effort in space exploration. 

THE MISSION PATCH:

This artist's rendering of the ISS-RapidScat instrument (inset), will 

measure ocean surface wind speed and direction and help improve 

weather forecasts, including hurricane monitoring. It will be installed on 

the end of the station's Columbus laboratory. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/Johnson 

Space Center)

n Assessing the Impact of Communication Delay on Behavioral 

Health and Performance: An Examination of Autonomous Operations 

Utilizing the International Space Station (Comm Delay Assessment)

Comm Delay Assessment evaluates the effects of delayed 

communications for interplanetary crews that have to handle medical and 

other emergencies in deep space. In addition to time delays experienced 

as they travel farther away from Earth, uncertainty in performing a crucial 

task can impact crew performance and interaction. Three crew members 

will perform eight tasks, with and without 50-second delays added. 

These tasks will vary in their level of stress and familiarity. This type of 

research may help refine procedures for Earth-based teams that operate 

in extreme or remote environments with intermittent or no contact with a 

home base and its experts. 

n Rodent Research Hardware and Operations Validation (Rodent 

Research-1) 

Rodent research hardware provides a platform for long-duration rodent 

experiments in space. These experiments examine how microgravity 

affects animals, providing information relevant to human spaceflight, 

discoveries in basic biology and knowledge that will have direct impact 

toward human health on Earth. Rodent Research-1 tests the operational 

capabilities of the new hardware system, including the transporter, rodent 

habitat, and access unit. 

n In-flight Demonstration of Portable Load Monitoring DevicesPhase I: XSENS ForceShoe (Force Shoes) 

The Force Shoes investigation is an evaluation of the XSENS ForceShoe 

system as a potential method to measure exercise loads on the Advanced 

Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) during crew member exercise sessions 

on the space station. Up to four astronauts will collect a series of 

static and dynamic load measurements 

using ARED. Researchers will use the 

measurements made by the XSENS 

ForceShoe system to quantify exercise load 

data needed for support of current and 

future human research experiments. This 

data also will be applied to populations on 

Earth restricted from exercise by injury, 

age, lifestyle or confined work and living 

space. 

The ForceShoe engineering 

evaluation will help validate 

the use of portable load 

monitoring devices in space. 

(NASA)