Ryzhikov becomes ISS Commander – Roscosmos
MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax) – The new commander of the International Space Station (ISS) is Sergei Ryzhikov of the Roscosmos state corporation, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Today Roscosmos’ cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov took over ISS command from JAXA [Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency] astronaut Takuya Onishi,” the statement said.
As ISS Commander, Ryzhikov will be responsible for the implementation of the flight program, manage the crew in the Russian and U.S. segments and inform the Mission Control Centers in Korolyov and Houston in case of an emergency aboard the ISS.
“The change of command ceremony involves handing a symbolical ‘key from the station’ and a bell strike,” the statement said.
Ryzhikov will remain ISS commander until returning to the Earth in December, it said.