Twitpics From Space By Douglas H. Wheelock

In 2001, Wheelock assumed duties as the Crew Support Astronaut for the ISS Expedition 2 crew, which was on orbit for 147 days from March 2001 to August 2001, and for the ISS Expedition 4 crew, which was on orbit for 195 days (U.S. long-duration record) from December 2001 to June 2002. He was the primary contact for all crew needs, coordination, planning and interactions, and was the primary representative of the crews while they were on orbit. In August 2002, Wheelock was assigned as a Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM) in the Mission Control Center in Houston. In this role, he was the primary communication link between crews on orbit and the ground support team in the Control Center. His work as a CAPCOM culminated in his assignment as the lead CAPCOM for the ISS Expedition 8 mission, which was 194 days in duration.
Wheelock served as mission specialist on STS-120, where he and crew member Scott Parazynski moved two solar arrays to a new location on the ISS. One of the solar arrays tore when was expanded and had to be sown up with a cuff-link type of mechanism.
Wheelock is currently serving at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. In January 2005, he was assigned as NASA’s Director of Operations – Russia. He is responsible for supporting Russia-based training, logistic, and administrative needs of NASA astronauts preparing for flight on the ISS. Wheelock is the primary liaison between Star City and NASA operations in Houston, including medical, training, science, contracting, public affairs, and administration departments. He is also responsible for liaison duties between NASA and the Russian Space Agency, as well as the Russian aerospace industry.
Wheelock is qualified to fly aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. He has completed qualification in the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Skills program as well as the Canadian Space Agency MSS Robotics Operator (MRO) course. He is currently completing qualification as a Flight Engineer in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.