The government commission at its Monday session approved members of the crew of Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft that will take off for the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

The main crew will consist of Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Yevgeny Tarelkin and NASA astronaut Kevin Ford. The standby crew consists of cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Misurkin and astronaut Christopher Cassidy.

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At the commission session head of the Cosmonauts' Training Center Sergei Krikalyov said: "The program of training the crew has been carried out in full. The conclusion of the medical commission is that all members of the main and standby crews are fit for the flight."

President and General Designer of Energia rocket and space corporation Vitaly Lopota said that "general tests have been completed" on the launch vehicle installed on the launch pad on Sunday and there are no issues obstructing takeoff.

Crew commander Oleg Novitsky reported that "the crew completed prelaunch training in Baikonur in full and is ready for the mission."

Meanwhile, Kevin Ford thanked the ground services for preparing the crew for the flight.

"Are fully prepared to do our job," he said in Russian.

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