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| Expedition 43 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Expedition 43 |
| Mission type | ISS long-duration expedition |
| Operator | NASA, Roscosmos, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Canadian Space Agency |
| Crew | Terry Virts, Anton Shkaplerov, Sam Cristoforetti, Takuya Onishi, Scott Kelly, Mikhail Kornienko |
| Mission duration | 172 days (approx.) |
| Space station | International Space Station |
| Start date | 2015-03-11 |
| End date | 2015-06-11 |
| Previous mission | Expedition 42 (ISS) |
| Next mission | Expedition 44 (ISS) |
Expedition 43 was a long-duration crewed mission to the International Space Station that operated during 2015, conducting microgravity research, maintenance, and international operations. The multinational crew from NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA supported experiments across life sciences, physical sciences, and Earth observation while coordinating with visiting Soyuz TMA-15M, Progress M-26M, and HTV-5 logistics missions. The expedition contributed to human spaceflight programs including NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Roscosmos–NASA cooperation, and preparations for Mars exploration analogs.
The expedition followed handover procedures used on the International Space Station since the Expedition 1 era and continued research objectives set by NASA and partner agencies including ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, and CSA. Key goals included supporting long-duration human physiology studies tied to the Year-long mission, conducting technology demonstrations relevant to Orion (spacecraft), and maintaining station systems such as the Zvezda (ISS module), Destiny (ISS module), and Kibo. Logistics operations coordinated with resupply vehicles like Progress spacecraft, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, and planned interactions with SpaceX Dragon and Orbital ATK Cygnus flights under the Commercial Resupply Services contracts.
The six-person crew combined experienced flight engineers and mission specialists from major space agencies. Commander Terry Virts (NASA) led operations alongside flight engineers Anton Shkaplerov (Roscosmos), Sam Cristoforetti (ESA), Takuya Onishi (JAXA), and the arrival or handover pair of Scott Kelly (NASA) and Mikhail Kornienko (Roscosmos) who were engaged in the Year-long mission. Crew training integrated facilities and programs at Johnson Space Center, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, European Astronaut Centre, Tsukuba Space Center, and Canadian Space Agency training elements tied to the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and centrifuge facilities.
Launch operations used the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome under Roscosmos authority with mission control coordination between Mission Control Center (Star City) and Mission Control Center (Houston). Docking procedures followed automated rendezvous protocols refined since the Soyuz TMA-01M series and integrated navigation support from the KURS system and the TORU manual override. The expedition also received several visiting vehicles, including the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle and Russian Progress-M resupply missions, with docking to Rassvet (ISS module), Zarya, and Poisk (ISS module) as required.
Scientific activities spanned human physiology experiments tied to the Year-long mission including bone density assessments related to studies by National Institutes of Health collaborators, cardiovascular monitoring using protocols developed with European Space Agency partners, and sleep studies coordinated with JAXA researchers. Physical sciences included fluid physics experiments supporting the Microgravity Science Glovebox operations, combustion studies relevant to Combustion Integrated Rack, and materials science investigations with roots in programs from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Earth observation campaigns supported remote sensing teams at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, ESA Earth Observation, and researchers associated with NOAA and USGS.
Extravehicular activities during the expedition addressed maintenance tasks on the station exterior such as radiator work on the Integrated Truss Structure, installation or inspection of External Thermal Control System components, and preparation for future payloads tied to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and European payloads. Spacewalks followed procedures vetted at Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and were coordinated with Mission Control Center (Moscow) and Mission Control Center (Houston) for timeline and contingency management. EVA tasking connected to historic EVAs like those for Hubble Space Telescope servicing and ISS assembly maintained continuity in suit and tool development influenced by the Orlan and Extravehicular Mobility Unit designs.
Hardware upgrades and technology demonstrations included communications and navigation work with the Space-to-Ground Antenna network, testing of life-support components relevant to Environmental Control and Life Support System, and experiments on radiation monitoring using instruments developed by European Space Agency and NASA centers. Hardware hosting involved payload racks in modules such as Columbus (ISS module), Kibo (ISS module), and Destiny (ISS module), and maintenance on Russian segment hardware like Pirs (ISS module) interfaces and the Zarya (module). Technology demonstrations fed into programs like Commercial Crew Program, Orion (spacecraft), and long-duration mission planning for Mars 2020 and subsequent human missions.
The expedition concluded with crew handovers and return operations using the Soyuz descent module to return crewmembers to landing zones near Kazakhstan. Postflight activities included debriefs at Johnson Space Center, medical follow-ups coordinated with NASA Ames Research Center and Russian Academy of Sciences, and data dissemination to partners such as ESA, JAXA, and academic institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. Findings informed ongoing programs like the International Space Station research roadmap, the Year-long mission assessments, and collaborative planning between NASA and Roscosmos for future expeditions and commercial partnerships.
Category:Expeditions to the International Space Station Category:2015 in spaceflight