ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev completed their training on ATV-5 docking/undocking at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre today. Congrats to both!

The two were undergoing training because they will serve as the crew members who oversee the undocking of ATV-5.

A relaxed, post-test view of the Exp41/42 crew, ESA ATV instructors (x4), Russian instructors from GCTC (1 for the ISS, 1 for Soyuz/ATV) and -- of course -- 1 translator. Photo was taken after today's successful rendezvous/docking and undocking exams. Credit: ESA

A relaxed, post-test view of the Exp41/42 crew, ESA ATV instructors (x4), Russian instructors from GCTC (1 for the ISS, 1 for Soyuz/ATV) and — of course — 1 translator. Photo was taken after today’s successful rendezvous/docking and undocking exams. Credit: ESA

ESA’s Alexander Gerst will oversee docking of ATV-5, in Spring 2014, together with Russia’s Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Skvortsov (Can we call this the ‘Triple Alex’ docking? – Ed.), while Samantha together with Alexander Samokutyaev will undock ATV-5 in Autumn 2014

Sasha Samokutyaev took part in the undocking of ATV-2 in 2011, and he also saw the undocking of the last Shuttle, STS-135, from the ISS. Sasha is truly the ‘specialist of the ‘lasts’…’

Herewith, a few photos of ATV-2 undocking, cargo inspection by Sasha within ATV-2, and Sasha seen with STS-135 through the port from the Russian Service Module nadir window.

ATV-2 in orbit. Credit: ESA/NASA

ATV-2 in orbit. Credit: ESA/NASA

 

Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev in ATV-2. Credit: ESA/NASA

Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev in ATV-2. Credit: ESA/NASA

 

Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev with last Shuttle. Credit: ESA/NASA

Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev with last Shuttle. Credit: ESA/NASA