Baikonur --
Finally no longer alone!
The two last of the Mohicans on the International Space Station (ISS), the Russian Maxim Surajew and American Jeffrey Williams, have received after three weeks in space gain. Three new astronauts, including Soichi Noguchi of Japan, have arrived in the night to Wednesday.
And Noguchi immediately brought proper food for Christmas: Sushi. This will be fed New Year. "Even at Christmas there will be a culinary surprise," promises the new Russian Oleg Kotov.
For large gifts, the close Soyuz capsule certainly had no place. But for a few small parcels from loved ones at home, and a plastic Christmas tree it was still sufficient.
For some time it was clear that the gift table to be filled and festive time not be so lush. Because of the two-man Notbesatzung the Russians had removed the December freighter that brings gifts, fruit and vegetables to the ISS. The head of the "star town" (Star City) near Moscow, Sergei Krikalev, who had recruited the men to the fact that there are no mandarins.
