Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka has ceremonially handed over control of the International Space Station to Expedition 33's Suni Williams.

"Thank you very much to everybody on the ground, and now it's time for Expedition 32 to turn over command to the new crew commander Sunita Williams," said Gennady, sporting a broad grin as they shook hands.

The pair were in the Destiny laboratory with their four crewmates for the traditional Change-of-Command Ceremony.

Williams stays behind with flight engineers Aki Hoshide and Yuri Malenchenko to live and work aboard the orbital laboratory until mid November.