Soyuz Launch Photos: Expedition 40/41 Blasts Off to Space Station

Soyuz Rocket Launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on May 28, 2014

NASA (via Instagram as nasa)

A colorful dart in the night sky! This 30-second exposure is of the Soyuz rocket launch from today at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 40 Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev, of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst, of the European Space Agency, ESA, and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA will dock to the International Space Station at 9:48 p.m. EDT.

Expedition 40/41 Crew Launches to the International Space Station #2

NASA TV

The three Expedition 40/41 crew members launched to the International Space Station in a Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft. The vehicle lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on May 28, 2014.

Soyuz TMA-13M Launches Expedition 40/41 Crew

NASA TV

The three Expedition 40/41 crew members launched to the International Space Station in a Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft. The vehicle lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on May 28, 2014.

Soyuz TMA-13M Engines Firing

NASA TV

Engines of the Russian TMA-13M rocket fire as it begins to launch the three members of the Expedition 40/41 crew to the International Space Station on May 28, 2014, from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Expedition 40/41 Crew Inside Soyuz Capsule

NASA TV

The three Expedition 40/41 crew members clasp hands a few minutes after lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to fly to the International Space Station on May 28, 2014.

Expedition 40/41 Crew Blasts Off to the International Space Station

NASA TV

The three Expedition 40/41 crew members launched to the International Space Station in a Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft. The vehicle lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on May 28, 2014.

Expedition 40/41 Crew Tweets Selfie

Alexander Gerst (via Twitter as @Astro_Alex)

Spaceflyer Alexander Gerst tweeted this photo of the Expedition 40/41 crew on May 27, 2014, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. He wrote: "We will fly to space tomorrow. But first, let us take a selfie...! ;) @Msuraev @astro_reid pic.twitter.com/3N9d8A5Bxg"

Expedition 40/41 Crew Mimic Cosmonaut’s Pose

NASA/Victor Zelentsov

Mimicking the pose taken years ago by a cosmonaut for the statue known as "The Fisherman" that stands at the entrance to the city of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 40/41 Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency , Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA pose for pictures May 21 at the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur as part of their traditional pre-launch training ceremonies.

TMA-13M Soyuz Being Raised

ESA-S Corvaja

A Russian Soyuz Rocket and TMA-13M spacecraft are raised atop a launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to launch the new Expedition 40/41 crew of the International Space Station on May 28, 2014.

Transport and Raising of the Soyuz TMA-13M

ESA-S Corvaja

Transport and raising of the Soyuz TMA-13M that will take Expedition 40/41 to the International Space Station.

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