"You are great professionals and we are glad with your success over the programme set", Nikolai Moiseev, first deputy head of the Federal Space Agency, said during the conversation. "While you are up, some changes have happened in the structure of the agency, but the manned programme is as before among the priorities", he added.
According to Yuri Semenov, general designer of the Space Rocketry Corporation Energia, Michael Foale is one of the most experienced astronauts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "Michael has made six flights and for Alexander Kaleri it is the fourth", Semenov noted.
"We are above you but we remember about all those who have prepared this flight and thank our veterans", Kaleri said in response.
Congratulating the crew, CNIIMASh head Nikolai Anfimov said: "We are admired by your spotting and eliminating the air leak in the station". He voiced the hope that the crew will soon discover also the source of noise in the ISS. "You have not yet found it but I'm sure you will", he said.
Valeri Korzun, first deputy chief of the cosmonauts team, wished Michael Foale to gain more weight. "You look fine, Michael, but you lack food because your weight has not changed", Korzun joked.
