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At the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (left) and cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, now a manager in the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), pose for pictures Nov. 20 following the docking of the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft to the International Space Station. Aboard the Soyuz were Expedition 50-51 crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA, Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency. Bolden served as commander of the space shuttle Discovery on the STS-60 mission in February 1994 in which Krikalev served as a mission specialist. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2016e183855

At the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, NASA Adminis...

At the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (left) and cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, now a manager in the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), pose for pictures... More

1610: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA waves to a crowd of well-wishers May 15 as he departs with his crewmates for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final pre-launch training. Wiseman, Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency and Soyuz Commander Max Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will launch on May 29, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft from Baikonur for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e045106

1610: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ...

1610: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA waves to a crowd of well-wishers May 15 as he departs with his crewmates for their lau... More

#3234a - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 backup Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren of NASA answers questions from reporters in front of a Soyuz simulator October 30 as part of his final qualification exams for flight. He along with Oleg Kononenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (not pictured) are the backups to the prime crew --- Terry Virts of NASA, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency --- who are in the final stages of training for launch November 24, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft to begin a five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e089253

#3234a - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Cente...

#3234a - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 backup Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren of NASA answers questions from reporters in front of a Soyuz ... More

jsc2017e039445 (04/03/2017) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 51 crewmember Jack Fischer of NASA displays a medal derived from the Apollo-Soyuz crew patch during a news conference April 3 to demonstrate how the U.S. and Russia are continuing their cooperation in space exploration. To Fischer’s left is crewmate Fyodor Yurchikhin of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). They will launch April 20 on the Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo: NASA/Rob Navias. jsc2017e039445

jsc2017e039445 (04/03/2017) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Cent...

jsc2017e039445 (04/03/2017) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 51 crewmember Jack Fischer of NASA displays a medal derived from the Apollo-Soyuz crew patch during a ne... More

1910: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 prime crewmembers Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (left), Elena Serova of Roscosmos (center) and NASA’s Barry Wilmore (right) listen to instructions from officials September 3 at the start of final qualification exams. They will launch September 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become only the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to conduct a long duration mission on the station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e079010

1910: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ...

1910: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 prime crewmembers Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (left), Elena Serova of Roscosmos (center) and ... More

jsc2017e039777 (04/05/2017) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the statue of Vladimir Lenin serves as a backdrop as Expedition 51 crewmembers Fyodor Yurchikhin of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, left) and Jack Fischer of NASA (right) answer reporters’ questions April 5 before departing for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final pre-launch training. Fischer and Yurchikhin will launch April 20 on the Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft from Baikonur for a four and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo: NASA/Rob Navi jsc2017e039777

jsc2017e039777 (04/05/2017) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Cent...

jsc2017e039777 (04/05/2017) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the statue of Vladimir Lenin serves as a backdrop as Expedition 51 crewmembers Fyodor Yurchikhin of the Russian Fed... More

1929: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 prime crewmembers Barry Wilmore of NASA (left), Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos (right) pose for pictures and answer reporters’ questions September 3 at the start of final qualification exams. They will launch September 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become only the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to conduct a long duration mission on the station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e079011

1929: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ...

1929: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 prime crewmembers Barry Wilmore of NASA (left), Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Al... More

1944: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 prime crewmembers Barry Wilmore of NASA (left), Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos (right) pose for pictures and wave to reporters and well-wishers September 3 at the start of final qualification exams. They will launch September 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become only the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to conduct a long duration mission on the station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e079012

1944: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ...

1944: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 prime crewmembers Barry Wilmore of NASA (left), Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Al... More

1826: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 backup crewmembers Scott Kelly of NASA (left), Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Mikhail Kornienko of Roscosmos (right) clasp hands as they pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator September 3 at the start of final qualification exams. They are the backups to NASA’s Barry Wilmore and Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of Roscosmos, who will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan September 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. Kelly and Kornienko will launch next March to spend a full year in space. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e079005

1826: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ...

1826: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 backup crewmembers Scott Kelly of NASA (left), Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and ... More

1881: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA (center) signs in at the start of final qualification exams September 3 as his crewmates, Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, left) and Elena Serova of Roscosmos (right) look on. They will launch September 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become only the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to conduct a long duration mission on the station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e079008

1881: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ...

1881: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA (center) signs in at the start of final qualification exams September 3 as his crewma... More

1898: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 Flight Engineer Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) signs in at the start of final qualification exams September 3 as her crewmates, Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos (left) and Barry Wilmore of NASA (right) look on. They will launch September 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become only the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to conduct a long duration mission on the station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e079009

1898: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ...

1898: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 Flight Engineer Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) signs in at the start of final qualifi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The crew for mission STS-121 is taking part in a Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Standing in front of a work stand are, left to right, Mission Specialists Thomas Reiter and Lisa Nowak, Mission Commander Steven Lindsey, Mission Specialist Michael Fossum, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Stephanie Wilson and Piers Sellers. Reiter represents the European Space Agency (ESA) and will remain on the space station working with the station crew under a contract between ESA and the Russian Federal Space Agency. He will return to Earth aboard STS-116 or a Russian Soyuz. A CEIT provides hands-on experiences with equipment used on-orbit. Mission STS-121 is the second in the Return to Flight sequence and will carry on improvements that debuted during last year's STS-114 mission and build upon those tests. Launch is scheduled in July. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-06pd0533

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The crew for mission STS-121 is taking ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The crew for mission STS-121 is taking part in a Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Standing in fro... More

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007, for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station. Whitson and Malenchenko will spend six months on the station. Shukor, who is flying under an agreement between Malaysia and the Russian Federal Space Agency, will return to Earth Oct. 21 with two of the Expedition 15 crewmembers currently on the complex. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls KSC-07pd2852

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by...

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007, for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy ... More

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007 for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station. Whitson and Malenchenko will spend six months on the station. Shukor, who is flying under an agreement between Malaysia and the Russian Federal Space Agency, will return to Earth Oct. 21 with two of the Expedition 15 crewmembers currently on the complex. Photo Credit: "NASA/Bill Ingalls" 07pd2850

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch p...

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007 for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer ... More

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007 for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station. Whitson and Malenchenko will spend six months on the station. Shukor, who is flying under an agreement between Malaysia and the Russian Federal Space Agency, will return to Earth Oct. 21 with two of the Expedition 15 crewmembers currently on the complex. Photo Credit: "NASA/Bill Ingalls" 07pd2852

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch p...

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007 for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer ... More

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007 for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station. Whitson and Malenchenko will spend six months on the station. Shukor, who is flying under an agreement between Malaysia and the Russian Federal Space Agency, will return to Earth Oct. 21 with two of the Expedition 15 crewmembers currently on the complex. Photo Credit: "NASA/Bill Ingalls" 07pd2851

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch p...

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007 for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer ... More

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007, for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station. Whitson and Malenchenko will spend six months on the station. Shukor, who is flying under an agreement between Malaysia and the Russian Federal Space Agency, will return to Earth Oct. 21 with two of the Expedition 15 crewmembers currently on the complex. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls KSC-07pd2850

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by...

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007, for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy ... More

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007, for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station. Whitson and Malenchenko will spend six months on the station. Shukor, who is flying under an agreement between Malaysia and the Russian Federal Space Agency, will return to Earth Oct. 21 with two of the Expedition 15 crewmembers currently on the complex. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls KSC-07pd2851

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by...

Baikonur, Kazakhstan -- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft was transported by railcar to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 8, 2007, for launch Oct. 10 to carry Expedition 16 Commander Peggy ... More

KAZAKHSTAN -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, and Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov turn to pose for a photograph at Mission Control Center Moscow in Korolev, Russia shortly after the successful docking of the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft with the International Space Station (ISS) marking the start of Expedition 21 with Flight Engineer Jeffrey N. Williams, Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev, and Spaceflight Participant Guy Laliberte, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Lalibrete will return to Earth with the Expedition 20 crew on October 11, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) KSC-2009-5286

KAZAKHSTAN -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, and Head of the...

KAZAKHSTAN -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, and Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov turn to pose for a photograph at Mission Control Center Moscow in Korolev, Russia shortly af... More

KAZAKHSTAN -- Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, talks to the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) from the Mission Control Center Moscow in Korolev, Russia shortly after the successful docking of the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft with the International Space Station marking the start of Expedition 21 with Flight Engineer Jeffrey N. Williams, Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev, and Spaceflight Participant Guy Laliberte, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) KSC-2009-5288

KAZAKHSTAN -- Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Permin...

KAZAKHSTAN -- Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, talks to the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) from the Mission Control Center Moscow in Korolev, Russia shortly after the s... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden talks to the International Space Station's Expedition 25 crew from the Operations Support Building II at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The call to the station is part of a global celebration of 10 years of continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory. More than 196 people have visited the station, which has completed more than 57,000 orbits of Earth and traveled about 1.5 billion miles. The station is a venture of international cooperation among NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and 11 members of the European Space Agency (ESA): Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. More than 100,000 people in space agencies and contractor facilities in 37 U.S. states and throughout the world are involved in this endeavor. For more information about the work and experiments taking place aboard the station today, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2010-5401

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden talks to the...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden talks to the International Space Station's Expedition 25 crew from the Operations Support Building II at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The cal... More

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) in Moscow March 11, 2011, Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov (center right), Alexei Krasnov, Roscosmos’ Head of Piloted Space Programs, and Joel Montalbano, NASA Director of Human Spaceflight Programs, Russia, discuss the upcoming launch of the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft with Expedition 27 prime crew members: Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev (far right), cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko, and NASA astronaut Ron Garan, along with backup crewmembers Anton Shklaperov, Anatoly Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank. Samokutyaev, Borisenko and Garan are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on March 30 (Kazakhstan time). The occasion was a traditional “tea” with Perminov prior to the crew’s departure for the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 17. Photo credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2011e025924

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) in...

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) in Moscow March 11, 2011, Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov (center right), Alexei Krasnov, Roscosmos’ Head of Piloted Space Programs, and Joel ... More

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (far left) and other Russian space officials spend time with the Expedition 30/31 prime crewmembers Dec. 6, 2011 prior to their departure Dec. 8 for their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On the right from top to bottom are Joel Montalbano, NASA’s Head of Human Spaceflight Programs in Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit, European Space Agency Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers and Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko. Pettit, Kuipers and Kononenko will launch to the International Space Station Dec. 21 in their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft. Credit: NASA jsc2011e215038

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of R...

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (far left) and other Russian space officials spend time with the Expedition 30/31 prime crewmembers Dec. 6, 2011... More

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (far left) and the head of Piloted Space Programs, Alexei Krasnov (to Popovkin’s left) spend time with the Expedition 30/31 prime crewmembers Dec. 6, 2011 prior to their departure Dec. 8 for their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On the right from top to bottom are Joel Montalbano, NASA’s Head of Human Spaceflight Programs in Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit, European Space Agency Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers and Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko. Pettit, Kuipers and Kononenko will launch to the International Space Station Dec. 21 in their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft. Credit: NASA jsc2011e215039

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of R...

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (far left) and the head of Piloted Space Programs, Alexei Krasnov (to Popovkin’s left) spend time with the Exped... More

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Expedition 30/31 backup crewmembers share a moment with Russian space officials in a ceremonial send off Dec. 6, 2011 prior to their departure for their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on Dec. 8. From left to right are backup Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko, NASA Flight Engineer Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The prime crew, Oleg Kononenko, NASA’s Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency are scheduled to launch Dec. 21 from Baikonur to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft. Credit: NASA jsc2011e215040

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Expeditio...

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Expedition 30/31 backup crewmembers share a moment with Russian space officials in a ceremonial send off Dec. 6, 2011 prior to their departure for th... More

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (fourth from the left) and Alexei Krasnov (third from the right) pose for pictures with the Expedition 30/31 prime and backup crewmembers Dec. 6, 2011 prior to their departure Dec. 8 for their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. From left to right are prime crewmembers NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit, Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency and Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko, Popovkin, backup Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko, Krasnov, backup NASA Flight Engineer Suni Williams and backup Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Pettit, Kuipers and Kononenko will launch to the International Space Station Dec. 21 in their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft. Credit: NASA jsc2011e215041

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of R...

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (fourth from the left) and Alexei Krasnov (third from the right) pose for pictures with the Expedition 30/31 pri... More

(26 April 2012) -- At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (center left), and other Russian space officials spend time with the Expedition 31 prime and backup crew members April 26, 2012 prior to their departure May 2 for their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. On the right from top to bottom are Expedition 31 backup crewmembers Kevin Ford, Evgeny Tarelkin and Oleg Novitskiy, and prime crewmembers -- Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka (right center), flight engineer Sergei Revin and NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba. Padalka, Revin and Acaba are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station May 15 in their Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA jsc2012e045629

(26 April 2012) -- At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Ag...

(26 April 2012) -- At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin (center left), and other Russian space officials spend time with the Expedition 31 prime and ... More

(26 April 2012) -- At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Expedition 31 backup crewmembers Kevin Ford of NASA (left), and Russian cosmonauts Evgeny Tarelkin and Oleg Novitskiy, field questions from Roscosmos officials April 26, 2012 prior to their departure May 2 for their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Prime crewmembers Gennady Padalka, Sergei Revin and Joe Acaba (not pictured) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station May 15 in their Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA jsc2012e045628

(26 April 2012) -- At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Ag...

(26 April 2012) -- At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Expedition 31 backup crewmembers Kevin Ford of NASA (left), and Russian cosmonauts Evgeny Tarelkin and Oleg Novitskiy, field questions... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215197

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215212

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215203

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215206

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215213

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215204

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215195

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215211

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215194

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215200

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215202

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215199

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215205

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency and Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency participate with PAO moderator Nicole Cloutier-LeMasters PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sowa jsc2012e215210

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conferen...

PHOTO DATE: 13 September 2012 LOCATION: BLdg. 2 North - Press Conference Room SUBJECT: Expedition 34/35 Press Conference. Expedition 34 and 35 crew members Thomas Marshburn of NASA, Chris Hadfield of the Canadi... More

JSC2013-E-026357 (April 2013) --- Three different space agencies and three national flags are represented by the backup crew members for Expedition 36. From the left are Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Mikhail Tyurin of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Rick Mastracchio of NASA. Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center jsc2013e026357

JSC2013-E-026357 (April 2013) --- Three different space agencies and t...

JSC2013-E-026357 (April 2013) --- Three different space agencies and three national flags are represented by the backup crew members for Expedition 36. From the left are Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exp... More

JSC2013-E-026354 (April 2013) --- Expedition 36 backup crew member Mikhail Tyurin of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) poses for a portrait in his Russian Sokol launch and entry suit. Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center jsc2013e026354

JSC2013-E-026354 (April 2013) --- Expedition 36 backup crew member Mik...

JSC2013-E-026354 (April 2013) --- Expedition 36 backup crew member Mikhail Tyurin of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) poses for a portrait in his Russian Sokol launch and entry suit. Photo credit: G... More

JSC2014-E-042042 (22 Aug. 2013) --- Cosmonaut Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) poses for a portrait during a break in training in Russia. Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center jsc2014e042042

JSC2014-E-042042 (22 Aug. 2013) --- Cosmonaut Maxim Suraev of the Russ...

JSC2014-E-042042 (22 Aug. 2013) --- Cosmonaut Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) poses for a portrait during a break in training in Russia. Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 39/40 prime crewmembers and family members walk to a bus March 13 before boarding a plane for the flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. From left to right in the front row are NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), his wife, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and his daughter. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev will launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time , in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025847

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Exp...

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 39/40 prime crewmembers and family members walk to a bus March 13 before boarding a plane for the flight to their launch site at the... More

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov (right) of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) walks with his wife March 13 as he prepares to board a bus for a nearby airport and a flight to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final training along with his crewmates, NASA’s Steve Swanson and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. The trio will launch to the International Space Station on March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025852

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedit...

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov (right) of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) walks with his wife March 13 as he pre... More

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA waves goodbye March 13 as he boarded a bus to go a nearby airfield for the flight to the launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Boarding ahead of Swanson on the right is Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). Swanson, Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos will launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time , in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025854

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedit...

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA waves goodbye March 13 as he boarded a bus to go a nearby airfield for the flight to the lau... More

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (third from left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, fourth from left) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev (far right) field questions from reporters March 13 before boarding a plane for the flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Looking on are backup crewmembers Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos (far left) and Elena Serova (second from left). Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev will launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time , in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025851

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin...

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (third from left), Soyuz Commander A... More

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov (right) of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) kisses his wife March 13 as he prepares to board a bus for a nearby airport and a flight to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final training along with his crewmates, NASA’s Steve Swanson and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. The trio will launch to the International Space Station on March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025853

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedit...

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov (right) of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) kisses his wife March 13 as he prepare... More

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers and family members walk to a bus March 13 before boarding a plane for the flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The prime crewmembers are NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; foreground center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (second from the right). Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev will launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time , in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025848

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Exp...

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers and family members walk to a bus March 13 before boarding a plane for the flight to their launch ... More

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, a throng of well-wishers say goodbye to the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers March 13 after they boarded a bus to go a nearby airfield for the flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Prime crewmembers Steve Swanson of NASA, Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos will launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time , in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025855

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin...

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, a throng of well-wishers say goodbye to the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers M... More

Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) are greeted by Russian space officials March 13 after stepping off their plane at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 13 following a flight from their training base in Star City, Russia. Swanson, Artemyev and Skvortsov are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e025976

Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz C...

Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) ... More

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center)) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev (right) pose for pictures March 13 before boarding a plane for the flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev will launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time , in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025849

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin...

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Sk... More

Flying from their training base in Star City, Russia to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; left), Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) pose for pictures March 13 next to the wall of the plane bearing a newly applied sticker with their mission insignia. Swanson, Artemyev and Skvortsov are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e025974

Flying from their training base in Star City, Russia to their launch s...

Flying from their training base in Star City, Russia to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Rosc... More

Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) step off their plane after arriving at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 13 following a flight from their training base in Star City, Russia. Swanson, Artemyev and Skvortsov are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e025975

Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz C...

Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) ... More

Flying from their training base in Star City, Russia to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; right) apply a sticker bearing their mission insignia to the wall of their plane March 13. Swanson, Artemyev and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos (hidden) are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e025973

Flying from their training base in Star City, Russia to their launch s...

Flying from their training base in Star City, Russia to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemye... More

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers pose for pictures March 13 before boarding a plane for the flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. From left to right are backup crewmembers Barry Wilmore of NASA and Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), and prime crewmembers Steve Swanson of NASA, Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev will launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time , in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e025850

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin...

With the statue of Vladimir Lenin serving as a backdrop at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers pose for pictures March 13 before boardi... More

2014-03-14-12-55-32[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA undergoes a pressure check for his Russian Sokol launch and entry suit during a “fit check” dress rehearsal March 14 that is part of the crew’s training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026279

2014-03-14-12-55-32[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cos...

2014-03-14-12-55-32[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA undergoes a pressure check for his Russian Sokol launch and en... More

2014-03-14-12-25-11-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA suits up March 14 for a “fit check” dress rehearsal exercise that is part of the crew’s final training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026277

2014-03-14-12-25-11-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur C...

2014-03-14-12-25-11-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA suits up March 14 for a “fit check” dress rehearsal exercise... More

2014-03-14-14-08-03[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA poses for a picture in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a “fit check” dress rehearsal exercise March 14 that is part of the crew’s final training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026284

2014-03-14-14-08-03[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cos...

2014-03-14-14-08-03[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA poses for a picture in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a “... More

2014-03-14-16-31-24-2[1] Outside the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; right) discuss the use of binoculars and GPS equipment March 14 during a “fit check” dress rehearsal that is part of the crew’s final training. Swanson, Artemyev and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026286

2014-03-14-16-31-24-2[1] Outside the Integration Facility at the Baiko...

2014-03-14-16-31-24-2[1] Outside the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian... More

2014-03-14-12-56-05-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA undergoes a pressure check for his Russian Sokol launch and entry suit during a “fit check” dress rehearsal March 14 that is part of the crew’s training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026280

2014-03-14-12-56-05-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur C...

2014-03-14-12-56-05-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA undergoes a pressure check for his Russian Sokol launch and ... More

2014-03-14-12-58-20[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA undergoes a pressure check for his Russian Sokol launch and entry suit during a “fit check” dress rehearsal March 14 that is part of the crew’s training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026281

2014-03-14-12-58-20[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cos...

2014-03-14-12-58-20[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA undergoes a pressure check for his Russian Sokol launch and en... More

2014-03-14-10-48-03-3[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA reviews procedures in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a “fit check” dress rehearsal exercise March 14 that is part of the crew’s final training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; hidden from view) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (foreground) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026276

2014-03-14-10-48-03-3[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur C...

2014-03-14-10-48-03-3[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA reviews procedures in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a ... More

2014-03-14-12-43-15[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) shares a word with crewmate and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) during a “fit check” dress rehearsal March 14 that is part of the crew’s final training. Swanson, Artemyev and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026278

2014-03-14-12-43-15[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cos...

2014-03-14-12-43-15[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) shares a word with crewmate and Flight Engineer Oleg A... More

2014-03-14-14-15-17[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA poses for a picture in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a “fit check” dress rehearsal exercise March 14 that is part of the crew’s final training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026285

2014-03-14-14-15-17[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cos...

2014-03-14-14-15-17[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA poses for a picture in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a “... More

2014-03-14-13-08-55-3[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) shares a word with Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; right) during a “fit check” dress rehearsal March 14 that is part of the crew’s training. Swanson, Skvortsov and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026282

2014-03-14-13-08-55-3[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur C...

2014-03-14-13-08-55-3[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) shares a word with Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortso... More

2014-03-14-13-11-14-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos pose for pictures March 14 following a “fit check” dress rehearsal that is part of the crew’s training. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026283

2014-03-14-13-11-14-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur C...

2014-03-14-13-11-14-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian F... More

2014-03-14-10-17-15-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA enters his Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a “fit check” dress rehearsal exercise March 14 that is part of the crew’s final training. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026275

2014-03-14-10-17-15-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur C...

2014-03-14-10-17-15-2[1] In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA enters his Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft during a “fit check” dre... More

2014-03-15-11-03-42[1] At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, prime Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) and backup Barry Wilmore of NASA (center) raise the American flag March 15 in traditional ceremonies that are part of the crew’s training. Prime crew Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev (left) of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) looks on. Swanson, Artemyev and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026288

2014-03-15-11-03-42[1] At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baiko...

2014-03-15-11-03-42[1] At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, prime Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) and backup Barry Wilmore of NASA (center) raise the Am... More

2014-03-15-11-04-32-3[1] At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the flags of Russia, the United States and Kazakhstan fly high March 15 after a flag-raising ceremony that is part of traditional pre-launch activities. Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026289

2014-03-15-11-04-32-3[1] At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baiko...

2014-03-15-11-04-32-3[1] At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the flags of Russia, the United States and Kazakhstan fly high March 15 after a flag-raising ceremony that is part of tradi... More

2014-03-15-11-03-34-4[1] At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the Expedition 39/40 crewmembers raise the flags of Russia, the United States and Kazakhstan March 15 in traditional ceremonies that are part of the crew’s training. From left to right are Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and backup crewmembers Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of Roscosmos. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026287

2014-03-15-11-03-34-4[1] At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Bai...

2014-03-15-11-03-34-4[1] At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the Expedition 39/40 crewmembers raise the flags of Russia, the United States and Kazakhstan March 15 in traditional cere... More

2014-03-15-13-00-13[1] Wearing native garb, the Expedition 39/40 backup crewmembers partake in traditional ceremonies with a Kazakh host March 15 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan as pre-flight training for them and their prime crewmember colleagues continues. Barry Wilmore of NASA (second from left), Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; second from right) and Elena Serova of Roscosmos (far right) are the backups to Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, who are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26 (Kazakh time) for the start of a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026290

2014-03-15-13-00-13[1] Wearing native garb, the Expedition 39/40 backu...

2014-03-15-13-00-13[1] Wearing native garb, the Expedition 39/40 backup crewmembers partake in traditional ceremonies with a Kazakh host March 15 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan as pre-flight training for them and thei... More

19-14-01-07-3: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters, the Expedition 39/40 prime crewmembers pose for pictures March 19 as part of traditional activities leading to their launch to the International Space Station. From left to right are Steve Swanson of NASA, Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency ( Roscosmos) and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026904

19-14-01-07-3: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters, the Expedition...

19-14-01-07-3: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters, the Expedition 39/40 prime crewmembers pose for pictures March 19 as part of traditional activities leading to their launch to the International Space Sta... More

19-11-04-07: Assisted by an interpreter, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA reviews rendezvous procedures with a training instructor at his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan March 19. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026893

19-11-04-07: Assisted by an interpreter, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engi...

19-11-04-07: Assisted by an interpreter, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA reviews rendezvous procedures with a training instructor at his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakh... More

19-12-22-38-6: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA gets in a workout March 19 as he prepares for launch to the International Space Station with his crewmates, Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) on March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026897

19-12-22-38-6: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kaza...

19-12-22-38-6: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA gets in a workout March 19 as he prepares for launch to the International Spa... More

19-12-04-43: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; left) play a game of Ping-Pong March 19 as they prepare for their launch to the International Space Station with their crewmate, Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos, on March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026895

19-12-04-43: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kaza...

19-12-04-43: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency... More

19-13-53-14: Assisted by backup crewmember Barry Wilmore of NASA (left), Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) plants a tree bearing his name behind the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan March 19 in a traditional ceremony. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026901

19-13-53-14: Assisted by backup crewmember Barry Wilmore of NASA (lef...

19-13-53-14: Assisted by backup crewmember Barry Wilmore of NASA (left), Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) plants a tree bearing his name behind the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters i... More

19-11-18-35-2: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) rehearse rendezvous procedures on a laptop simulator March 19. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026894

19-11-18-35-2: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Ka...

19-11-18-35-2: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Ag... More

19-13-57-32-5: Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos (center) and Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) pose for pictures behind their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan March 19 after planting trees bearing their names in a traditional ceremony. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026902

19-13-57-32-5: Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the ...

19-13-57-32-5: Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos (center) and Flight Engineer Steve Swanson ... More

19-12-34-54: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA takes a turn on a tilt table March 19 as part of his conditioning in preparation for launch to the International Space Station with his crewmates, Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) on March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026899

19-12-34-54: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakh...

19-12-34-54: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA takes a turn on a tilt table March 19 as part of his conditioning in preparatio... More

19-12-29-45-3: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA takes a spin in a rotating chair March 19 as part of his conditioning in preparation for launch to the International Space Station with his crewmates, Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) on March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026898

19-12-29-45-3: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kaza...

19-12-29-45-3: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA takes a spin in a rotating chair March 19 as part of his conditioning in prep... More

19-12-18-04: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA gets in a workout March 19 as he prepares for launch to the International Space Station with his crewmates, Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) on March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026896

19-12-18-04: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakh...

19-12-18-04: At his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA gets in a workout March 19 as he prepares for launch to the International Space... More

19-13-51-10: Behind their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (foreground, left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; foreground, center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (foreground, right) take a stroll down the Walk of Cosmonauts March 19. Behind Swanson is backup crewmember Barry Wilmore of NASA and behind Artemyev is backup crewmember Elena Serova. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026900

19-13-51-10: Behind their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, ...

19-13-51-10: Behind their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (foreground, left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Fe... More

19-14-00-48: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers pose for pictures March 19 as part of traditional activities leading to the next crew launch to the International Space Station. From left to right are backup crewmembers Barry Wilmore of NASA, Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Elena Serova of Roscosmos and prime crewmembers Steve Swanson of NASA, Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e026903

19-14-00-48: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters, the Expedition 3...

19-14-00-48: At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crewmembers pose for pictures March 19 as part of traditional activities leading to the next crew launch to the Intern... More

13-29-34: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA signs a banner March 21 bearing the insignia of the 2014 Winter Olympics that concluded in February in Sochi, Russia as he and his crewmates prepare for launch to the International Space Station. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are wrapping up training for their launch to the station March 26, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027244

13-29-34: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition...

13-29-34: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA signs a banner March 21 bearing the insignia of the 2014 Winter Olympics that concluded in Febr... More

12-19-34-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crews pose for pictures in front of the first stage engines of the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft March 21. From left to right are backup crewmembers Barry Wilmore of NASA, Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Elena Serova of Roscosmos and the prime crewmembers, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are wrapping up training for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027239

12-19-34-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...

12-19-34-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 39/40 prime and backup crews pose for pictures in front of the first stage engines of the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecra... More

13-26-08: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos (center) and Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) hold a banner bearing the insignia of their Soyuz crew patch March 21 during traditional ceremonies. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are wrapping up training for their launch to the station March 26, Kazakh time, Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are wrapping up training for their launch to the station March 26, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027243

13-26-08: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition...

13-26-08: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos... More

10-33-15: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) pose for pictures in front of their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft March 21. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are wrapping up training for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027236

10-33-15: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in K...

10-33-15: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space A... More

12-28-16-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) shares a moment with crewmate Oleg Artemyev (left) of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) after they inspected their Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft March 21. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Artemyev are wrapping up training for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027240

12-28-16-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...

12-28-16-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (right) shares a moment with crewmate Oleg Artemyev (left) of the Russia... More

10-37-11-3: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA boards his Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft March 21 as he and his crewmates wrapped of training for their upcoming launch to the International Space Station. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch March 26, Kazakh time, for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027237

10-37-11-3: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...

10-37-11-3: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA boards his Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft March 21 as he and his crewmates wra... More

12-52-00-3: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (foreground) signs a wall mural March 21 to honor a tradition as he and his crewmates prepare for launch to the International Space Station. Looking on is Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Artemyev are wrapping up training for their launch to the station March 26, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027241

12-52-00-3: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expediti...

12-52-00-3: In the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (foreground) signs a wall mural March 21 to honor a tradition as he and his crewmates prepare... More

12-19-17-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos; center) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) pose for pictures in front of the first stage engines of their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft March 21. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are wrapping up training for their launch to the International Space Station March 26, Kazakh time, for a six-month mission on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e027238

12-19-17-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in...

12-19-17-2: In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space... More

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Steven Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six month mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov) 201403220005HQ

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Buildin...

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will... More

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Steven Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six month mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov) 201403220002HQ

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Buildin...

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will... More

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Steven Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six month mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov) 201403220009HQ

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Buildin...

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will... More

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Steven Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six month mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov) 201403220001HQ

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Buildin...

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will... More

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Steven Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six month mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov) 201403220006HQ

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Buildin...

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will... More

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Steven Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six month mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov) 201403220004HQ

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Buildin...

The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft are assembled at Building 112 on the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for March 26 and will... More

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