Expedition 39 Soyuz Launch Seen from ISS

Expedition 39 Soyuz Launch Seen from ISS

Credit: Rick Mastracchio (via Twitter as @AstroRM)

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio, aboard the International Space Station, tweeted this photo of the Soyuz rocket launching the Expedition 39 crew from Kazakhstan to the station on March 25, 2014.

Expedition 39 Soyuz Launch Begins

Expedition 39 Soyuz Launch Begins

Credit: NASA TV

The latest three spaceflyers launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 25, 2014.

Expedition 39 Launch Flight Path

Expedition 39 Launch Flight Path

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

This long expsoure photograph shows the flight path of the Soyuz TMA-12M rocket as it launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 26, 2014.

Expedition 39 Just Prior to Launch

Expedition 39 Just Prior to Launch

Credit: NASA RTV

The latest three spaceflyers launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 25, 2014.

Blast Off! Expedition 39 Launches

Blast Off! Expedition 39 Launches

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The Soyuz TMA-12M rocket launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 carrying 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 to the International Space Station.

Soyuz Rocket Lifts Off

Soyuz Rocket Lifts Off

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The Soyuz TMA-12M rocket launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 carrying 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 to the International Space Station.

Expedition 39 Launches

Expedition 39 Launches

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The Soyuz TMA-12M rocket launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 carrying 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 to the International Space Station.

Soyuz TMA-12M Rocket Launches

Soyuz TMA-12M Rocket Launches

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The Soyuz TMA-12M rocket launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 carrying 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 to the International Space Station.

Expedition 39 Soyuz Launch

Expedition 39 Soyuz Launch

Credit: NASA TV

The latest three spaceflyers launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 25, 2014.

Expedition 39 Soyuz TMA-12M Ascending

Expedition 39 Soyuz TMA-12M Ascending

Credit: NASA TV

The latest three spaceflyers launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 25, 2014.

Expedition 39 Crew in Soyuz TMA-12M Spacecraft

Expedition 39 Crew in Soyuz TMA-12M Spacecraft

Credit: NASA TV

Expedition 39 crew sits inside the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft prior to launching to the International Space Station on March 25, 2014. The stuffed toy duck at left will serve as an indicator of reaching orbit, when it begins to float in zero-g.

Expedition 39 Crew at the Bus Before Launch

Expedition 39 Crew at the Bus Before Launch

Credit: NASA TV

Expedition 39 primary crew flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz commander Aleksander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, flight engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are seen before boarding the bus at Baikonur Cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan, ahead of launching to the International Space Station on March 25, 2014.

Expedition 39 Crew Waving Farewell

Expedition 39 Crew Waving Farewell

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 crew members wave farewell before boarding their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft on March 25, 2014.

Expedition 39 Preflight

Expedition 39 Preflight

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft as seen at the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Gantry Arms Closing Around the Soyuz TMA-12M Spacecraft

Gantry Arms Closing Around the Soyuz TMA-12M Spacecraft

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The gantry arms begin to close around the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft to secure the rocket, as seen in this long exposure photograph, at the launch pad on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket 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 aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout

Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The gantry arms begin to close around the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft to secure the rocket at the launch pad on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket 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 aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout

Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The gantry arms begin to close around the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft to secure the rocket at the launch pad on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket 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 aboard the International Space Station.

Sunrise Before Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout

Sunrise Before Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The sun rises behind the Soyuz launch pad shortly before the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft is rolled out by train to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Sunday, March, 23, 2014.

Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout Side View on Train

Expedition 39 Soyuz Rollout Side View on Train

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft is rolled out to the launch pad by train on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket 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 aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 39 Soyuz Assembly

Expedition 39 Soyuz Assembly

Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov

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.

NASA HQ PHOTO Expedition 39 Press Conference

NASA HQ PHOTO Expedition 39 Press Conference

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 primary crew flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz commander Aleksander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, flight engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Expedition 39 Press Conference (Standing)

Expedition 39 Press Conference (Standing)

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 primary crew flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz commander Aleksander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, flight engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Expedition 39 Press Conference (Seated)

Expedition 39 Press Conference (Seated)

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz commander Aleksander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and flight engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Aleksandr Skvortsov

Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Aleksandr Skvortsov

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Soyuz commander Aleksandr Skvortsov is seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Astronaut Swanson at Expedition 39 Press Conference

Astronaut Swanson at Expedition 39 Press Conference

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA is seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Swanson and Skvortsov of Expedition 39

Swanson and Skvortsov of Expedition 39

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA and Soyuz commander Aleksander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos are seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Expedition 39 Press Conference with Press Corps

Expedition 39 Press Conference with Press Corps

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Expedition 39 flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA is seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 flight engineer Oleg Artemyev is seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission is set to launch March 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Priest Blesses Media Crew on Soyouz Launch Pad

Priest Blesses Media Crew on Soyouz Launch Pad

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media on the Soyouz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan.

Priest Blesses Soyuz Rocket

Priest Blesses Soyuz Rocket

Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov

An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Crew at Final Press Conference

Expedition 39 Crew at Final Press Conference

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 primary crew flight engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, Soyuz commander Aleksander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, flight engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Expedition 39 backup crew Barry Wilmore of NASA, Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos, and Elena Serova of Roscosmos are seen in quarantine, behind glass, during the final press conference be Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Door Signing

Expedition 39 Door Signing

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, performs the traditional door signing at the Cosmonaut hotel prior to departing the hotel for launch in a Soyuz rocket with fellow crew mates, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Steve Swanson: Expedition 39 Door Signing

Steve Swanson: Expedition 39 Door Signing

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, performs the traditional door signing at the Cosmonaut hotel prior to departing the hotel for launch in a Soyuz rocket with fellow crew mates, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Crew Walkout

Expedition 39 Crew Walkout

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, left, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, are seen as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Preflight Blessing

Expedition 39 Preflight Blessing

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Door Signing

Expedition 39 Door Signing

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev, left, of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, performs the traditional door signing at the Cosmonaut hotel as Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos, looks on, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Preflight: Sokol Suit Pressure Check

Expedition 39 Preflight: Sokol Suit Pressure Check

Credit: NASA/GCTC/Irina Peshkova

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for his launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Preflight: Sokol Suit Prep

Expedition 39 Preflight: Sokol Suit Prep

Credit: NASA/GCTC/Irina Peshkova

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Tuesday, March, 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Skvortsov, Swanson, and Artemyev on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 39 Sokol Suit Prep

Expedition 39 Sokol Suit Prep

Credit: NASA/GCTC/Irina Peshkova

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Tuesday, March, 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Soyuz Commander Russian Sokol Suit Prep

Soyuz Commander Russian Sokol Suit Prep

Credit: NASA/GCTC/Irina Peshkova

Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Tuesday, March, 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Alexander Skvortsov Sokol Suit Pressure Check

Alexander Skvortsov Sokol Suit Pressure Check

Credit: NASA/GCTC/Irina Peshkova

Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for his launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Steve Swanson Speaks with Family During Suit Pressure Checks

Steve Swanson Speaks with Family During Suit Pressure Checks

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, center, speaks with his family during Russian Sokol suit pressure checks in preparation for launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Oleg Artemyev's Sokol Suit Check

Oleg Artemyev's Sokol Suit Check

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for his launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Expedition 39 Preflight: Crew Speaks with Family Members

Expedition 39 Preflight: Crew Speaks with Family Members

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, left, and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, right, speak with family members while Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for his launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.