NASA astronaut candidate Anna Menon and her children watch as a Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

NASA astronaut candidate Anna Menon and her children watch as a Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crewmembers NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio lifted off for the Soyuz MS-29 mission at 7:47 p.m. local time to begin their long-duration stay aboard the orbital outpost. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)

At the headquarters of the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Expedition 30/31 prime 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 NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit, European Space Agency Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers and Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko. The trio are scheduled to launch Dec. 21 from Baikonur to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft. Credit: NASA

jsc2018e051936 - Outside the Korolev Museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 56 prime and backup crewmembers walk to a flight article of a Russian Buran space shuttle May 31 that is on display at the launch site as part of their pre-launch activities. Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA, Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency will launch June 6 in the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. ..NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

The service structure is lifted into position around the Soyuz rocket, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e016994 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster stand at their vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 following rollout for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2020e017005 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster stand vertically the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch following rollout. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The service structure is raised into position around the Soyuz rocket, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e016993 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster stand at their vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 following rollout for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2020e017000 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Security forces keep watch as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e017002 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2020e016989 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The service structure is lifted into position around the Soyuz rocket, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e016987 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

Technicians work on the Soyuz rocket after it is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e017004 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2020e016995 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster stand at their vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 following rollout for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

Flags fly at launch site 31 as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the pad, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e016996 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster stand at their vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 following rollout for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2020e016991 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are raised to a vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2020e016997 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster stand at their vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 following rollout for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e016988 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

The Soyuz rocket is raised vertical, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Site 31 launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e016990 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2020e016998 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster stand at their vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 after the closing of gantry arms following rollout for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2020e016992 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are raised to a vertical position at the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e017001 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2020e016999 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

A locomotive engineer waits in advance of the Soyuz rocket being rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is raised vertical after having rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2020e017003 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft and its booster are transported from the integration building to the Site 31 launch pad April 6 for final preparations for launch. Expedition 63 crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos are set to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-16 April 9 for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Technicians work on the Soyuz rocket after it is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is raised vertical, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Site 31 launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is raised vertical, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Site 31 launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 65 backup crew members Oleg Artemyev, left, and Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and NASA astronaut Anne McClain, right, pose for a photograph as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

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

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

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

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