New ISS crew period of work onboard the station was increased from 6 to 7 months due to the flight program adjustment, – crew commander Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko said.
“Our flight will last more than 6 months. Indeed it was increased due to the program adjustment. We have a lot of work to do, the schedule is very busy, but interesting”, – reported the cosmonaut.
The launch of Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft with crew comprising Yuri Malenchenko (Roscosmos), Timothy Kopra (NASA) and Timothy Peake (ESA) onboard is scheduled for December 15, 2015.
As it was reported the adjustment may be caused by shift of cargo vehicle launch dates.
Onboard the station the crew will have to work with Russian Progress M-M and Progress M-S cargo vehicles and American Dragon and Cygnus vehicles. Besides they will perform one spacewalk in the framework of Russian program and accomplish works on ISS resupply.
