A Team
NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko posed in front of the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft on Oct. 13, 2016, less than a week before their Oct. 19 launch to the International Space Station on that spacecraft.
Excited and Ready
Expedition 49 prime crewmembers — Shane Kimbrough of NASA, third from right, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, second from right, and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos, right — along with the backup crewmembers — Mark Vande Hei of NASA, left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, second from left, and Nikolai Tikhonov of Roscosmos, third from left — pose in front of the base of a Soyuz rocket on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Expedition 49 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 19.
Readying the Rocket
While constructing the Soyuz rocket assembly, a worker removes a protective cover from an engine on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016.
Attaching the Tower
On Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, during assembly of the Soyuz rocket, workers prepare the escape tower for attachment to the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft.
Connecting the Parts
In preparation for the Oct. 19 launch, the Soyuz rocket and Soyuz MS-02 are mated at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Bringing Out the Big Guns
A train rolls the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft to the launch pad on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Rockets to the ISS
At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a train rolls the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft onto the launch pad in preparation for the Oct. 19 launch.
Destination Achieved
The Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft arrives at the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in preparation for Expedition 49 to the International Space Station.
Getting Into Position
After being transported to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan the Soyuz MS-02 is raised into a vertical position in preparation for the Oct. 19 launch to the International Space Station.
Securing the Payload
The gantry arms are raised around the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft after it reached a vertical position on the launch pad.
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