The casts and crews of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis took to the sets once again this week, with principal photography of the hit shows beginning in Vancouver, British Columbia.

SG-1 enters its record-setting tenth year, making it the longest-running science fiction series in U.S. television history. Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, and Beau Bridges return for another 20 episodes — though Shanks and Tapping are expected to sit out a few, as well as make crossover appearances on SG-1‘s sister show.

Also joining the regular cast this year is Claudia Black, who took the Stargate universe by storm in her 6-episode appearance as Vala Mal Doran early in Season Nine. Vala will return to the show in the final two episodes of Season Nine, airing in March.

Stargate Atlantis enters the territory of a veteran show when Season Three begins. Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, David Hewlett, Rachel Luttrell, Paul McGillion, and Jason Momoa return for another year of adventure. Like its sister show, Atlantis will air another 20 new episodes in the coming season.

Principal photography is scheduled to run from February 20 to October 10, 2006.

SG-1 Season Ten and Atlantis Season Three begin this summer — probably mid-July — on The SCI FI Channel in the United States! The final episodes of Season Nine and Season Two air Fridays at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, leading up to the finales on March 10.