November 21, 2011

 

We’re almost to the end of our mission. On Sunday evening, we had a change-of-command ceremony in which I officially handed the reins over to my good friend, Dan Burbank.

 

My remarks from the ceremony follow.

 

My name is Mike Fossum and I am currently serving as the commander of Expedition 29 onboard the International Space Station. I’d like to introduce my crewmates: Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa; Russian cosmonauts Sergey Volkov, Anton Shkaplerov, and Anatoly Ivanishin; and American astronaut Dan Burbank.

 

 

Today is an important day in the story of the ISS. We are the 29th crew to call this marvelous vessel home and we’ve made the best of every minute, however our time grows short. Although Expedition 29 does not officially end until we undock from the station tomorrow, we will have a change-of-command ceremony today so Sergey, Satoshi, and I may concentrate on our preparations for departure.

 

Dan, she will be your ship in a few minutes. First, I’d like to say a few words.

 

Expedition 29 has been a very interesting time. We were here to be a part of the historic last space shuttle mission. It was then our task to transition from a focus on assembly operations to full scientific utilization. With the loss of the Progress cargo ship and delay in launches, we spent all but a few days of Expedition 29 as a three-person crew, yet we achieved every science goal set before us.

 

We are the fortunate ones living in space with the great view. In truth, we merely serve as the hands and eyes for a huge team with the real brains, passion, persistence, and patience.

 

We did work hard, but our success is really a tribute to the mission teams on the ground that developed the plans to make it all happen.

 

I think of it as a pyramid with only a few at the point who couldn’t stand there without the rock-solid foundation which reaches far below.

 

There are too many individuals to mention, but I have to say a special thank-you to our lead flight director in Houston, Royce Renfrew. He has been the unflappable quarterback calling the perfect plays while we scramble to run our patterns so we won’t let the team down.

 

This picture above was taken in the U.S. laboratory during ground integration
testing in 2000. Lead flight director Royce Renfrew is on the
right and astronaut Joan Higgenbotham is in the middle.

 

Finally, I want to say a few words about our patch.

 

The image we chose was that of the International Space Station following the path of the historic 18th-century explorer, Captain James Cook, and his ship Endeavour. During Cook’s three main voyages, he explored and mapped a major portion of the oceans and coastlines under the flight path of the ISS, adding immeasurably to the body of knowledge of that time. As the ISS sails a stardust trail—following the spirit of Endeavour sailing toward the dark unknown and new discoveries—it enlightens the Earth below. The quest for new discoveries has been a significant element of the human character through the centuries, inspiring us to endure hardships and the separation of a mission that is greater than the individual. 

 

The crew of Expedition 29 is proud to continue the journey in this greatest of all human endeavors. 

 

Throughout history, the change of command for a sailing ship has been a formal occasion and we continue that tradition today.

 

We are proud to have served, and we are humbled by the outstanding professionalism and support from teams around the planet in Houston, Moscow, Cologne, Munich, Tskuba, Montreal, and Huntsville, Alabama, not to mention the science and engineering teams from numerous agencies and universities.

 

Sergey and Satoshi, this was my dream mission and you have been my dream crew. I would launch with you guys on another mission in a heartbeat.

 

Dan, Anton, and Anatoli, you arrived at our door a few days ago well-prepared and ready to spring into action. You are ready to take over. My only regret is that our time together on orbit was reduced to such a very short time. We have made the best of it and are happy to see you continue the continuous human presence in space aboard the ISS, which has now surpassed 11 years.

 

There are no words to express our gratitude to our families, who have endured much throughout our years of training and this mission. We call home excited about seeing countries at night in a blaze of light with a flicker of aurora on the horizon while they are dealing with kids, homework, and cars that need repairs—the stuff of real life.

Honey, I’m coming home!

 

Dan, I am ready to be relieved.

 

“I relieve you, Commander.”

 

I stand relieved.

 

And so it goes. With those simple final words, the torch is passed to a new commander and crew. Godspeed, ISS Commander Dan Burbank and crew of Expedition 30!

 

Living the dream!

—Mike Fossum
 Commander, Expedition 29