On the Eve of New Year 2009, the Mission Control Center near Moscow (MCC-M) held a TV communications session with the crew of Expedition 18 to the International Space Station (ISS) currently working in orbit.

Taking part in it were the heads of the Russian Federal Space Agency, State Commission and Technical Management for flight tests of manned space complexes, representatives of the NASA office in Moscow, all-Russia Grandfather Frost, representatives from the city of Moscow and Vologod region, from the leading companies in the Russian space industry, the children, who took part in the contest to draw the best crew patch for Soyuz TMA-14 mission to be launched in March 2009.

The Head of Roscosmos A.N.Perminov and S.P.Korolev RSC Energia's General Designer V.A. Lopota sent their compliments of the season to the crew of ISS-18 – Michael Fincke, Yuri Lonchakov and Sandra Magnus – thanked them for efficient work on-board the space station, wished them good health, successful completion of their mission plan and safe return back to Earth in the spring of 2009.

Also sent their greetings to the crew: representatives of the Vologod region administration, NASA office in Moscow, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and young artists participating in the contest.

Speaking from MCC-M the All-Russia Grandfather Frost extended his greetings to ISS cosmonauts and astronauts, and workers in the rocket and space industry, wished them all good health, happiness and new successes in space.

The Head of Roscosmos A.N. Perminov, speaking at a press conference for Russian and foreign mass media held after the communications session, answered the newsmen's questions and wished everyone good health, happiness and new successes in their creative work in 2009.

Also extended their New Year's greetings: President and General Designer of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia V.A. Lopota, representatives from NASA, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and Vologod region.

Also announced during the press conference were the results of the contest to draw the best crew patch for the Soyuz TMA-14 mission.

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