Canadian Space Agency astronauts Robert Thirsk (left) and Chris Hadfield (right) during experiment training at Tsukuba Space Center, Japan. Thirsk is scheduled to spend six months on the International Space Station between May and November 2009 together with ESA astronaut Frank De Winne. Hadfield is assigned as back-up to Thirsk. Before the flight both Thirsk and Hadfield receive training in experiments that will be performed during the mission. At Tsukuba the training covers experiments that take place inside the Japanese Kibo laboratory.