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First European Commander of the ISS

Posted by timothy on from the shift-of-power dept.

RobGoldsmith writes 'ESA astronaut Frank De Winne became the first European commander of the International Space Station this morning with the departure of Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka who had filled this role since April. De Winne is the first non-American and non-Russian to take on this role. Watch the videos and view images here.'

6 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Russia... by AJWM · · Score: 5, Insightful

    isn't part of Europe?

    --
    -- Alastair
    1. Re:Russia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gennady_Padalka

      But he's from the almost the furthest west bit (due south of Moscow)

  2. Russia Is Clearly European by andersh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Have you even been to Europe? Of course we consider Russians Europeans! There is no doubt about that! People from the Soviet Republics however are a different matter, and even within the present Russian Federation there are many ethnic peoples!

    We sometimes make the distinction because they are so large and have gone through a tough time lately (from Soviet times to Putin). Imperial Russia was at the heart of Europe, and only the Soviet era changed that. St Petersburg was the crown of Russias European identity!

    Slavs are Europeans no matter what country in Europe they come from. Slavs are not limited to Russia you know, from Serbia to Russia Eastern Europe is full of Slavic people(s).

    I'm a European, specifically a Scandinavian, and we absolutely see Russians as Europeans.

  3. Re:ESA NOT EU by Bureaucromancer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Technically true, but for most purposes it's reasonable to describe it as the EU's space program.

  4. seriously... by voss · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Something happens on the space station and for some reason the station cant communicate with earth...whos in charge?

    The station commander.

    In an emergency he would make certain decisions such abandon the station or stay put.

    While ground controllers can give direction, you always want to have someone on site who can actually
      act on those directions and tell people what to do. A station commander is not for things you expect, its for the things
    you dont expect.

  5. Re:Let me be the first... by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Insightful

    He's probably OK. Generally, it only seems to be the French that get offended when it comes to language.