HOUSTON -- The current crew on the International Space Station (ISS) seem to have mixed feelings about the idea of a two-person crew taking over from them in May.
Offering a few pros and cons during a pair of space-to-ground interviews broadcast on NASA TV on Friday, the Expedition Six crew overall were supportive of the plan and said they were ready to come home in the Soyuz spacecraft.
"A lot of things will change. Some things will get easier, some things will get a little bit harder. For example there are some times when it's nice just to have an extra set of hands," current station skipper Ken Bowersox said.
"On the other hand, the basic maintenance for every day life is going to be easier,'' Bowersox said.
With one less person aboard there will be fewer uses of things like the bathroom and exercise equipment, so there will be less need to fix the hardware when it breaks down from time to time.
And there will be one less person to hang out with -- something Bowersox doesn't believe will be a problem considering they have the ability to communicate with folks on the ground via radio, e-mail and even telephone.
"That really helps fend off the chances of feeling isolated," Bowersox said. "I've felt pretty well in touch with everyone I want to be in touch with."
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced Thursday that the ISS partners agreed to rely on Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft to keep the outpost going until space shuttle flights are able to resume.
With a more limited ability to carry the basic essentials of life to the station -- food, water and everyday supplies such as clothing, batteries and pens -- the decision was made to reduce the station crew size to two persons.
The first two person crew -- which will be called Expedition Seven -- is to be launched in late April or early May aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft. That Soyuz will dock with the station and remain there until October.
The Soyuz spacecraft that is now docked to the complex will be the one the Expedition Six crew will ride home in about a week after the Expedition Seven crew arrives.
Cosmonauts Yuri Malenchenko and Alexander Kaleri, and astronauts Ed Lu and Mike Foale, are training near Moscow for the Expedition Seven mission. One Russian and one American will be selected as the prime crew in March.
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