DISCOVERY AND ALPHA CREWS GATHER FOR TELEVISED PRESS CONFERENCE, 2001-03-16 (photo)

The crews from the space shuttle Discovery and the International space station Alpha gather for a televised press conference in the Destiny module, March 16, 2001. Astronaut William Shepherd (Bottom row 2ndL), commander of the first crew to live aboard the International Space Station, was ambivalent when asked on Friday whether he wants to return to his orbiting home away from home after a stress-filled tour of duty. "I miss Earth," said Shepherd, whose Expedition One team is to leave the station on Sunday and return to Earth early Wednesday. Back row (L-R) Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, pilot Jim Kelly, astronaut Paul Richards, commander Jim Weatherbee, astronaut Andy Thomas, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev. Front row (L-R) Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko, Shepherd, astronaut Susan Helms, and astronaut James Voss. The Alpha crew, in dark blue shirts, were the first full-time inhabitants of the International Space Station. SV