Space veterans Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, and NASA
astronaut Ed Lu, KC5WKJ head into space this weekend to assume the reins of the International Space Station (ISS) as its Expedition 7 crew.

Expedition Seven to Launch Tonight
The Expedition Seven crewmembers -- Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA ISS Science Officer Ed Lu -- are set to begin their journey to the International Space Station tonight. Final preparations are under way at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, for the launch of their Soyuz rocket, which is slated for 10:54 p.m. CDT (0354 GMT Saturday). After two days in orbit, the Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the international outpost at 12:56 a.m. CDT (0556 GMT) Monday