30.09.2009
Sojuz TMA-16, starting today from Baikonur to International Space Station will be supported by ground services and ships of Pacific Fleet.
Search and rescue service supporting space launchings was formed at Pacific Fleet as early as in 1966. Currently, Pacific Fleet rescue service directorate is headed by Capt 1st rank Nikolai Minakov, and SR space launch and flight support department – by Col Kabir Amirov.
Sojuz TMA-16 spaceship crew: Russian astronaut Maksim Suraev, NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams and space tourist Guy Laliberte, Canadian billionaire and the owner of Cirque du Soleil. The astronauts will shift Gennady Padalka and Michael Barratt, and plan to spend about a half of year. Laliberte has to return on Earth in 11 days along with the previous crew.
Source: RusNavy.com
