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

Born: Krasnodar, Russia

Interests: diving, parachute sport and theater

Spaceflights: Soyuz-TM-28/Mir Exp. 26, ISS Exps. 9, 

19 and 20

Bio: http://go.nasa.gov/1u1HVm6

Gennady Padalka (Roscosmos) – Commander

(Puh-DOLL-kuh)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

International Space Station

EXPEDITION 44Expedition 44 began June 11, 2015 and ends September 11, 2015. This expedition 

includes human research, biology and biotechnology, astrophysics research, physical 

science investigations and education activities.

Crew members will install equipment and conduct experiments that help researchers study 

crops in space, observe potentially threatening microbes, examine liquid crystals in motion, 

and perform a one-year comparison of the effects of space travel on identical twins during 

Expedition 44. 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 onboard until March 2016

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)

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)

[MISSION SUMMARY]
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov

NP-2015-06-023-JSC

International

Space Station

Mission

Summary

Vegetable Production System (Veggie)

Veggie is a plant growth facility capable of producing salad-type crops 

to provide the crew with appetizing, nutritious and safe fresh food 

and supporting crew recreation. The Veggie unit provides lighting and 

nutrient delivery, but uses the cabin environment on the space station for 

temperature control and as a source of carbon dioxide to promote growth. 

Using these facilities, researchers can glean knowledge about plant 

growth and development in microgravity. This information may improve 

growth, biomass production and farming practices on Earth.

Microbial Tracking Payload Series (Microbial Observatory-1)

A variety of microbes which can threaten crew health and jeopardize 

equipment reside aboard the space station. The Microbial Observatory1 investigation monitors the types of microbes on the station over 

a one-year period. Samples returned to Earth enable scientists to 

understand the diversity of the microbial flora on the station and 

how it changes over time. The same techniques can be used to 

identify microbes in hospitals, pharmaceutical laboratories and other 

environments on Earth where microbe identification is crucial.

Observation & Analysis of Smectic Islands in Space (OASIS)

The OASIS research team examines 

the behavior of liquid crystals 

in microgravity. Specifically, the 

research team is observing the 

overall motion of the crystals 

and the merging of crystal layers 

known as smectic islands. This 

investigation may shine light on how 

microgravity affects the ability of 

liquid crystals to act like both a liquid 

and a solid. Liquid crystals are used 

in television and laptop screens, 

watches and clocks, and a variety of 

other electronics with flat panel displays. Studying them in microgravity 

may help researchers design better liquid crystal display (LCD) devices 

The International Space Station is positioned in the foreground poised to study Earth, the sun 

and cosmos that lie beyond. Two members of the Expedition 44 crew will spend a full year on the 

space station, providing valuable experience for future long duration missions into deep space. The 

12 Earths represent the planet's position around the sun over the course of that year. Four of the 

Earths are silhouetted in sunlight representing the four month duration of Expedition 44. The nine 

stars in the background represent the nine individuals that will visit and work on the space station 

during the course of the expedition, including the six-member crew, whose names are inscribed 

around the patch's border, and the three-person Soyuz "taxi" crew. The use of ellipses and circles 

throughout the patch reflect a theme of completion or return as investments made in this orbiting 

laboratory return benefit to the Earth and its inhabitants. 

THE MISSION PATCH:

on Earth. Engineers also could use certain types of liquid crystals 

in small screens applied directly to the face shields in future space 

helmets, enabling astronauts to easily view the small screens and 

read important information during a spacewalk.

Twins Study

The Twins Study is an integrated compilation of multiple studies led 

by numerous principal investigators at various centers and academic 

institutions. The studies take advantage of a unique opportunity to 

look at the effects of space travel on identical twins: one in space 

and the other on Earth for the same year. The study looks at changes 

in the human body in the fields of genetics, psychology, physiology, 

microbiology, and immunology. 

NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly along with his brother, former Astronaut 

Mark Kelly, at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Scott Kelly is 

participating in a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station. 

Image Credit: Robert Markowitz

A close-up of smectic islands, part of 

the OASIS investigation aboard the 

International Space Station. Image 

credit: NASA