Soyuz-TMA 9

Cosmonauts:
    Upload:
        Mikhail Tyurin [2], Commander
        Michael Lopez-Alegria [4], Flight Engineer (USA)
        Anousheh Ansari [1] (USA/Iran)
    Download:
        Mikhail Tyurin
        Michael Lopez-Alegria
        Charles Simonyi
Backup:
    Yuri Malenchenko
    Peggy Whitson
Launch:
    Date: 18 September 2006
    Time: 04:08:42 UTC
Landing:
    Date: 21 April 2007
    Time: 12:31:30 UTC
Duration: 215 days, 8 hours, 23 minutes
Docked: 20 September 2006 - 21 April 2007
Call Sign: Vostok

Soyuz-TMA 9 was the replacement for Soyuz-TMA 8. The Soyuz is used as a lifeboat for the ISS. Because of fuel degradation, the Soyuz needs to be replaced every six months.