There is so much that we gain on the ground
from experiments, from work that is done in space.
It's new materials, it's new medications,
it's new discoveries that are connected specifically
with human health and human performance.
My name is Alexander Grebenkin.
I am a mission specialist on NASA's space exploration mission
to the International Space Station.
There are several goals.
The main goal, of course, is to perform the scientific program
using different kits, using different equipment and hardware
There are many tasks that have to do
also with the timely maintenance and
repairs on the station and resupplying the space station.
It really is very important for people
to keep working in space.
Space exploration, first of all,
is useful to people on Earth.
The research that is done there in microgravity
allows us to see new horizons in medication development
and development of new techniques and technologies for medical treatments.
First of all, I expect to see our beautiful Earth.
That's what I'm looking forward to.
To see Earth from the height of space flight.
It's a joy for me to achieve something
that I planned many, many years.
I am very ready, very excited
to achieve this dream of going to the space station.