Alumni Eric A. Boe, 44, Robert Shane Kimbrough, 42 and Sandra H. Magnus, 44 are among the seven astronauts scheduled for the 15-day mission to the International Space Station.

All three astronauts earned their post-graduate degrees at Georgia Tech during the 1990s. Boe earned a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1997, Kimbrough a master of science degree in operations research in 1998 and Magnus a doctorate from the School of Material Science and Engineering in 1996.

The mission focuses on delivering equipment and supplies designed to double the crew size of the station from three to six in May 2009. The station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints will also be serviced by the crew.