JSC2006-E-31443 (28 May 2006) --- NASA astronaut Alan G. Poindexter, commander.

STS-122 Mission Commander Steve Frick, right, and Pilot Alan Poindexter use a pair of binoculars to inspect the outside of the space shuttle Atlantis. Atlantis landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility, 9:07a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008 at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. completing delivery of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

STS131-S-091 (20 April 2010) --- NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, walk around under the space shuttle Discovery shortly after Discovery and its seven-member crew landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 20, 2010. Poindexter and NASA astronaut James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; along with NASA astronauts Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists, returned from their 15-day journey of more than 6.2 million miles. The STS-131 mission to the International Space Station delivered science racks, new crew sleeping quarters, equipment and supplies. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and STS-131 Commander Alan G. Poindexter walk around under the space shuttle Discovery shortly after Discovery and the STS-131 crew landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, April 20, 2010. STS-131 mission crew, Commander Alan G. Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton Jr. and Mission Specialists Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki returned from their 14-day journey of more than 6.2 million miles. The STS-131 mission to the International Space Station delivered science racks, new crew sleeping quarters, equipment and supplies. Photo credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, Houston -- JSC2006-E-31443 -- Astronaut Alan G. Poindexter, commander

STS131-S-093 (20 April 2010) --- Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, holds a Japanese flag near the space shuttle Discovery shortly after Discovery and the STS-131 crew landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 20, 2010. NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists, returned from their 15-day journey of more than 6.2 million miles. The STS-131 mission to the International Space Station delivered science racks, new crew sleeping quarters, equipment and supplies. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, holds a Japanese flag near the space shuttle Discovery shortly after Discovery and the STS-131 crew landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, April 20, 2010. STS-131 mission crew, Commander Alan G. Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton Jr. and Mission Specialists Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki returned from their 14-day journey of more than 6.2 million miles. The STS-131 mission to the International Space Station delivered science racks, new crew sleeping quarters, equipment and supplies. Photo credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

ISS023-E-024626 (17 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, poses for a photo in the Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

S122-E-007035 (9 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, greets astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, as the Atlantis crew joined the ISS crewmembers onboard the orbiting outpost.

S122-E-009799 (18 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, works the controls on the aft flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day 12 activities.

JSC2010-E-039285 (10 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, speaks to a crowd during a cake-cutting ceremony in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-007157 (9 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, looks over a checklist while working on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day three activities.

JSC2009-E-207900 (15 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter (center), STS-131 commander, is pictured during a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-005060 (7 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, gives a "thumbs-up" signal on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day one activities.

JSC2009-E-207883 (15 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, is pictured during a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-009798 (18 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, works the controls on the aft flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day 12 activities.

JSC2010-E-038794 (9 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, responds to a question from a reporter during an STS-131 preflight press conference at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-009545 (16 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, smiles for a photo as he floats on the middeck of Space Shuttle Atlantis while docked with the International Space Station.

S131-E-008504 (10 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, floats freely in the Unity node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

S122-E-006223 (8 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, passes through a tunnel on the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the eve of the docking of the shuttle to the International Space Station.

STS-122 Pilot Alan Poindexter exercises on the Cycle Ergometer on the Middeck (MDK) of the orbiter Atlantis. Photo was taken during Expedition 16/STS-122 joint operations.

S122-E-006224 (8 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, works on the middeck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day two activities.

S131-E-009244 (12 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, is pictured near the windows in the Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

S122-E-011243 (18 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, works the controls on the aft flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day 12 activities.

S131-E-007244 (7 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, looks through a window on the aft flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day three activities.

JSC2007-E-14485 (20 March 2007) --- While seated at the pilot's station, astronaut Alan G. Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, participates in a post insertion/de-orbit training session in the crew compartment trainer (CCT-2) in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. Poindexter is wearing a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit.

ISS023-E-020621 (7 April 2010) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 mission commander who has led the Discovery crew on its mission to the International Space Station, displays a pleasant countenance as the hatches come open and two crews begin their traditional handshakes aboard the orbital outpost. Behind Poindexter is Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, mission specialist.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-122 Pilot Alan Poindexter seems satisfied with the landing practice session he has just completed aboard a shuttle training aircraft, or STA, at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. Poindexter and Commander Steve Frick are preparing for the Dec. 6 launch on space shuttle Atlantis. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

ISS023-E-020635 (7 April 2010) --- Soon after initial hatch opening, at far left, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, Expedition 23 commander, along with (from the left) NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio, T.J. Creamer, James P. Dutton Jr. and Alan Poindexter visit briefly before getting down to serious business. Creamer is an Expedition 23 flight engineer and Mastracchio is an STS-131 mission specialist. Poindexter and Dutton are commander and pilot, respectively, for the Discovery crew.

JSC2010-E-038821 (9 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter (far left) STS-131 mission commander, and his crew pose for photos during the press day event for the scheduled April mission. NASA astronauts Poindexter and James Dutton (second left) will serve as the commander and pilot, respectively. They will be joined by (from third left) astronauts Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, along with Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Clayton Anderson, all mission specialists.

ISS023-E-020665 (7 April 2010) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (near frame center) joins NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson (foreground), Alan Poindexter (blue jersey, standing) and T.J. Creamer in the "busy" Destiny laboratory aboard the International Space Station. Creamer is Expedition 23 flight engineer, Poindexter is STS-131 commander and Yamazaki and Wilson are mission specialists for STS-131.

ISS023-E-020666 (7 April 2010) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (near frame center) joins NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson (foreground), Alan Poindexter (blue jersey, standing) and T.J. Creamer in the "busy" Destiny laboratory aboard the International Space Station. Creamer is Expedition 23 flight engineer, Poindexter is STS-131 commander and Yamazaki and Wilson are mission specialists for STS-131.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Dressed in his launch and entry suit, STS-122 Pilot Alan Poindexter climbs the steps to the shuttle training aircraft, or STA, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Poindexter and Commander Steve Frick will practice shuttle landings in the STA before the Dec. 6 launch on space shuttle Atlantis. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

JSC2009-E-208913 (17 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter (center), STS-131 commander; along with astronauts Rick Mastracchio (left) and Clay Anderson, both mission specialists, take a brief break for a photo during a water survival training session in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Poindexter and Anderson are attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Dressed in his launch and entry suit, STS-122 Pilot Alan Poindexter is seated in the shuttle training aircraft, or STA, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Poindexter and Commander Steve Frick will practice shuttle landings in the STA before the Dec. 6 launch on space shuttle Atlantis. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

JSC2009-E-208979 (17 Sept. 2009) --- United Space Alliance crew trainer Robert (Rob) Tomaro (right) briefs NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, in preparation for a water survival training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Poindexter is wearing a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit.

JSC2010-E-038822 (9 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 mission commander, poses for photos during the press day event for the scheduled April mission. NASA astronauts Poindexter and James Dutton will serve as the mission commander and pilot, respectively. They will be joined by astronauts Clayton Anderson, Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and Stephanie Wilson, along with Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, all mission specialists.

S131-E-008532 (10 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, exercises using the advanced Resistive Exercise Device (aRED) in the Tranquility node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

JSC2010-E-006693 (5 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (left), STS-131 commander; and Clayton Anderson, mission specialist, participate in an undocking timeline training session in the Guidance and Navigation Simulator in the Mission Simulation Development Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-007166 (9 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, prepares to use a High Definition Video (HDV) camera, a Station Detailed Test Objective (SDTO), on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day three activities.

JSC2010-E-006683 (5 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander; and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, mission specialist, participate in an undocking timeline training session in the Mission Simulation Development Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-007074 (9 Feb. 2008) --- Astronauts Alan Poindexter (left), pilot for the Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 crew, and Stanley Love, mission specialist, appear to enjoy the view aboard the International Space Station shortly after ingress on docking day.

S131-E-007517 (7 April 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (left) and James P. Dutton Jr., STS-131 commander and pilot, respectively, are pictured at their stations on the forward flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day three activities.

JSC2009-E-207360 (11 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, occupies the commander?s station during a training session in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

S131-E-006096 (6 April 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (left), STS-131 commander; and James P. Dutton Jr., pilot, work on the forward flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

JSC2009-E-207369 (11 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, occupies the commander?s station during a training session in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

JSC2009-E-207318 (11 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (left) and James P. Dutton Jr., STS-131 commander and pilot, respectively, participate in a training session in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

JSC2010-E-055371 (21 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-007032 (9 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, translates into the International Space Station from the Space Shuttle Atlantis shortly after the two spacecraft docked in space and the hatches were opened on Feb. 9, 2008.

JSC2010-E-006706 (5 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, participates in an undocking timeline training session in the Guidance and Navigation Simulator in the Mission Simulation Development Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S131-E-007159 (6 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter (right), STS-131 commander; along with astronauts Clayton Anderson (center) and Rick Mastracchio, both mission specialists, are pictured on the middeck deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

JSC2010-E-039293 (10 March 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (right), STS-131 commander; and Clayton Anderson, mission specialist, are pictured during a cake-cutting ceremony in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

JSC2007-E-09761 (13 Feb. 2007) --- Astronaut Alan G. Poindexter, STS-122 pilot, attired in a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit, awaits the start of a water survival training session in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near Johnson Space Center.

JSC2009-E-207361 (11 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander; and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, mission specialist, participate in a training session in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

S122-E-007099 (9 Feb. 2008) --- Astronauts Steve Frick (left), STS-122 commander; Rex Walheim, mission specialist; and Alan Poindexter, pilot, take a moment for a photo on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day three activities.

JSC2010-E-006707 (5 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (left), STS-131 commander; and Clayton Anderson, mission specialist, participate in an undocking timeline training session in the Guidance and Navigation Simulator in the Mission Simulation Development Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

ISS023-E-023888 (15 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, works in the Leonardo Multi-purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) linked to the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

JSC2009-E-214352 (25 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander; and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, mission specialist, take a moment for a photo during a training session in the virtual reality lab in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S131-E-006100 (6 April 2010) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, is pictured in the hatch which connects the flight deck and middeck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities. NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, commander, is at right.

JSC2010-E-032822 (1 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, prepares for a flight in a NASA T-38 trainer jet from Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center to Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

ISS023-E-024150 (16 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, adds his crew's patch to the growing collection, in the Unity node, of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station.

JSC2010-E-032819 (1 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, walks to the nearby flight line of NASA T-38 trainer jets at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center prior to a flight to Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

JSC2010-E-017740 (29 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, attired in a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit, occupies the commander's station on the flight deck of the Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT) in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

JSC2009-E-119391 (12 May 2009) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-125 spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM), monitors data at his console in the space shuttle flight control room in the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center during flight day two activities.

JSC2010-E-055375 (21 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

JSC2009-E-083995 (20 April 2009) --- Astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, occupies the commander?s station on the flight deck during in a Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT) mock-up training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S131-E-006092 (6 April 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (left), STS-131 commander; and James P. Dutton Jr., pilot, are pictured on the forward flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

JSC2010-E-019458 (8 Feb. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, participates in a training session in an International Space Station mock-up/trainer in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S131-E-007268 (7 April 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander; and Stephanie Wilson, mission specialist, work on the aft flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day three activities.

S131-E-009294 (12 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, watches a water bubble float freely between him and the camera, showing his image refracted, on the middeck of space shuttle Discovery while docked with the International Space Station.

JSC2009-E-208005 (14 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, attired in a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit, awaits the start of a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

JSC2010-E-032829 (1 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, waves as he prepares to leave for a flight in a NASA T-38 trainer jet from Ellington Field near NASA?s Johnson Space Center to Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

S131-E-006095 (6 April 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (left), STS-131 commander; and James P. Dutton Jr., pilot, work on the forward flight deck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.

S131-E-008530 (10 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, exercises using the advanced Resistive Exercise Device (aRED) in the Tranquility node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.

JSC2009-E-207367 (11 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, occupies the commander?s station during a training session in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

JSC2009-E-207947 (14 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, attired in a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit, occupies the commander?s station on the flight deck of the Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT) in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S131-E-009609 (13 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, mission specialist, work with lithium hydroxide (LiOH) canisters on space shuttle Discovery’s middeck while docked with the International Space Station.

JSC2009-E-287975 (9 Dec. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, dons a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

JSC2009-E-207896 (15 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander; and Stephanie Wilson, mission specialist, participate in a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

ISS023-E-024158 (16 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, poses for a photo after adding his crew's patch to the growing collection, in the Unity node, of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station.

JSC2009-E-208001 (14 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, dons a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

JSC2010-E-006713 (5 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (background), STS-131 commander; Clayton Anderson and Stephanie Wilson, both mission specialists, participate in an undocking timeline training session in the Guidance and Navigation Simulator in the Mission Simulation Development Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

S131-E-009607 (13 April 2010) --- NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, mission specialist, work with lithium hydroxide (LiOH) canisters on space shuttle Discovery’s middeck while docked with the International Space Station.

JSC2009-E-083996 (20 April 2009) --- Astronauts Alan Poindexter (left), STS-131 commander; and James P. Dutton Jr., pilot, occupy their stations on the flight deck during in a Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT) mock-up training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Dressed in his launch and entry suit, STS-122 Pilot Alan Poindexter heads across the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to the shuttle training aircraft, or STA. Poindexter and Commander Steve Frick will practice shuttle landings in the STA before the Dec. 6 launch on space shuttle Atlantis. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the shuttle training aircraft, or STA, is ready to roll out for practice landings. In the cockpit are Commander Steve Frick and Pilot Alan Poindexter, who are preparing for the Dec. 6 launch on space shuttle Atlantis. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

S131-E-010163 (14 April 2010) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov (left), Expedition 23 commander; and NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, shake hands in the Unity node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. NASA astronauts James P. Dutton Jr., STS-131 pilot; and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Expedition 23 flight engineer, are also pictured.

JSC2010-E-038824 (9 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio, STS-131 mission specialist, poses for photos during the press day event for the scheduled April mission. NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter and James Dutton will serve as the mission commander and pilot, respectively. They will be joined by astronauts Clayton Anderson, Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and Stephanie Wilson, along with Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, all mission specialists.

ISS023-E-020629 (7 April 2010) --- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov (far left), Expedition 23 commander, prepares to greet the STS-131 crew as it comes aboard the International Space Station to spend several days in a number of busy joint activities for the two crews. Seen clearly in the hatch are astronaut Alan Poindexter, STS-131 commander, and Japan Aerospace Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, mission specialist.

S122-E-009723 (17 Feb. 2008) --- STS-122 and Expedition 16 crewmembers share a meal at the galley in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. Pictured from the left are NASA astronauts Rex Walheim, STS-122 mission specialist; Steve Frick, STS-122 commander; Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander; Alan Poindexter, STS-122 pilot; Stanley Love and Daniel Tani, both STS-122 mission specialists.

STS131-S-002 (21 Oct. 2009) --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-131 crew portrait. Seated are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (right), commander; and James P. Dutton Jr., pilot. Pictured from the left (standing) are NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, all mission specialists.

JSC2009-E-207358 (11 Sept. 2009) --- NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter (right), STS-131 commander; Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, mission specialist; and James P. Dutton Jr., pilot, participate in a training session in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at NASA?s Johnson Space Center.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Prior to a simulated launch countdown_emergency simulation on Launch Pad 39A, the media photograph and interview astronaut Alan G. Poindexter. Pad team members participated in the four-hour exercise simulating normal launch countdown operations, with the added challenge of a fictitious event causing an evacuation of the vehicle and launch pad. The simulation tested the team’s rescue approaches on the Fixed Service Structure, slidewire basket evacuation, triage care and transportation of injured personnel to hospitals, as well as communications and coordination.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the shuttle training aircraft, or STA, taxis toward the runway for practice landings. In the cockpit are Commander Steve Frick and Pilot Alan Poindexter, who are preparing for the Dec. 6 launch on space shuttle Atlantis. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

S131-E-010051 (14 April 2010) --- The STS-131 crew members pose for a portrait in the Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. Pictured counter-clockwise (from top left) are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, NASA astronauts Clayton Anderson and Stephanie Wilson, all mission specialists.

S131-E-008397 (9 April 2010) --- The seven STS-131 crew members -- working guests for several days aboard the International Space Station -- are seen in Japan's Kibo laboratory during a video downlink to the ground. NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter is at bottom center. Others pictured are astronauts James P. Dutton Jr. (top edge of frame), pilot; and Rick Mastracchio (from far left), Clayton Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and Stephanie Wilson, along with Japan's Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists.

The space shuttle Discovery is seen as it lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Discovery and the STS-131 mission crew, Commander Alan G. Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton Jr. and Mission Specialists Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki returned from their mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

JSC2010-E-038825 (9 March 2010) --- NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson, STS-131 mission specialist, poses for photos during the press day event for the scheduled April mission. NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter and James Dutton will serve as the mission commander and pilot, respectively. They will be joined by astronauts Clayton Anderson, Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and Wilson, along with Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, all mission specialists.

The space shuttle Discovery is seen as it lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Discovery and the STS-131 mission crew, Commander Alan G. Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton Jr. and Mission Specialists Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki returned from their mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-122 Commander Steve Frick (right) and Pilot Alan Poindexter (left) congratulate each other on the successful landing practice completed aboard a shuttle training aircraft, or STA, at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. They are preparing for the Dec. 6 launch on space shuttle Atlantis. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett