A large TV screen in Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia shows Cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov, right, welcoming Expedition 19 Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt onboard the International Space Station after he fellow crew members Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi docked their Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft on Saturday, March 28, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Valery Grin, Deputy Head of State Commission, talks on the phone to the six crew members onboard the International Space Station from the Russian Mission Control Center, Korolev, Russia, Saturday, March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft docked to the International Space Station and delivered Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Mike Hawes, NASA's Acting Associate Administrator, talks on the phone to the six crew members onboard the International Space Station from the Russian Mission Control Center, Korolev, Russia, Saturday, March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft docked to the International Space Station and delivered Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Michelle Barratt, right, prepares to talk on the phone to her husband onboard the International Space Station from the Russian Mission Control Center, Korolev, Russia, Saturday, March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft docked to the International Space Station and delivered Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA Astronaut and Expedition 19 Flight Engineer Michael Barratt delivers remarks and shows a moon rock sample being flown onboard the International Space Station at the Apollo 40th anniversary celebration held at the National Air and Space Museum, Monday, July 20, 2009 in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Managers from NASA, Roscosmos, RSC-Energia, TsNIIMash and other related agencies answer reporters questions during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Managers from NASA, Roscosmos, RSC-Energia and other related agencies answer reporters questions during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
View from the balcony of the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia moments before the Soyuz TMA-14 docks to the International Space Station on Saturday, March 28, 2009. A view of the International Space Station from Soyuz onboard cameras is visible in the upper right display. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Alexei Krasnov, Director of Manned Space Programs Department, Roscosmos, answers reporters questions during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Vitaly Lopota, President, General Designer, RSC-Energia, answers reporters questions during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Vladyka Feofan speaks during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Vladimir Solovyov, Chief Flight Director, MCC-M, answers reporters questions during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
12-year-old Anna Chibiskova of Moscow speaks during the Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. Chibiskova was the winner of an International logo design contest for the Expedition 19 mission. Stas Pyatkin, (not pictured) from the Uglegorsk Amur region, won third place and 12-year-old Keytlin Riley (not pictured) from New York won second place. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Mike Hawes, NASA's Acting Associate Administrator, left, looks on as Kirk Shireman, NASA's deputy ISS program manager, answers reporters questions during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Michelle Barratt, 3rd from left, claps as she watches her husband, NASA Astronaut Mike Barratt, enter the International Space Station live on TV from the Russia Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, Saturday, March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
View from the balcony of the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia moments before the Soyuz TMA-14 docks to the International Space Station on Saturday, March 28, 2009. A view of the International Space Station from Soyuz onboard cameras is visible in the upper display. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Vladimir Solovyov, Chief Flight Director, MCC-M, answers reporters questions during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
View from the balcony of the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia moments before the Soyuz TMA-14 docks to the International Space Station on Saturday, March 28, 2009. A view of the International Space Station from Soyuz onboard cameras is visible in the upper right display. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
ISS017-E-013843 (19 Aug. 2008) --- A panoramic view of the island of Hispaniola in the foreground and Cuba extending to over the horizon. The sunglint is illuminating Haiti and the Dominican Republic while the thunderstorms persist in the late afternoon of the summertime day. Taken by the Expedition 17 crew onboard the ISS on Aug 19, 2008 with a 28 mm lens.
ISS027-E-006229 (19 March 2011) --- During some free time, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Expedition 27 flight engineer, plays a flute in the JAXA Kibo laboratory onboard the International Space Station.
ISS018-E-044276 (28 March 2009) --- U.S. spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi ingresses the International Space Station after arriving onboard a Soyuz spacecraft with two Expedition 19 crewmembers (out of frame).
ISS027-E-006231 (19 March 2011) --- During some free time, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Expedition 27 flight engineer, plays a flute in the JAXA Kibo laboratory onboard the International Space Station.
ISS027-E-006230 (19 March 2011) --- During some free time, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Expedition 27 flight engineer, plays a flute in the JAXA Kibo laboratory onboard the International Space Station.
ISS018-E-044277 (28 March 2009) --- Astronaut Michael Fincke (foreground), Expedition 18 commander, welcomes U.S. spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi as he ingresses the International Space Station after arriving onboard a Soyuz spacecraft with two Expedition 19 crewmembers (out of frame).
NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and Russian Search and Recovery Forces are seen onboard a AN-26 aircraft as they deploy from Karaganda to Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
ISS034-E-009486 (19 Dec. 2012) --- Though somewhat faint, the contrails from the launch of the Expedition 34/35 crew onboard the Soyuz TMA-07M on Dec. 19 are recognizable while the International Space Station and its three-man Expedition 34 crew were over the Caspian Sea. The skies were clear over the Baikonur Cosmodrome at this time, making it possible that these contrail "clouds" would be easy to spot.
Michelle Barratt wishes her husband, NASA Astronaut Michael Barratt, a happy wedding anniversary via phone to the International Space Station from the Russian Mission Control Center, Korolev, Russia, Saturday, March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft docked to the International Space Station and delivered Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The crews of Expedition 18 and 19 are seen on a large TV screen in the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, Saturday, March 28, 2009 shortly after the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft docked to the International Space Station and delivered Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
S135-E-011857 (19 July 2011) --- This picture of the International Space Station was photographed from the space shuttle Atlantis as the orbiting complex and the shuttle performed their relative separation in the early hours of July 19, 2011. Onboard the station were Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Expedition 28 commander; Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev, both flight engineers; Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and NASA astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, all flight engineers. Onboard the shuttle were NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; and Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, both mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA
S118-E-09341 (19 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the International Space Station appears to be very small as the Space Shuttle Endeavour departs from the station. Endeavour's vertical stabilizer and orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods are seen in this image photographed by an STS-118 crewmember onboard the shuttle. Earlier the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews concluded nearly nine days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 6:56 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 19, 2007.
S135-E-011864 (19 July 2011) --- This picture of the International Space Station was photographed from the space shuttle Atlantis as the orbiting complex and the shuttle performed their relative separation in the early hours of July 19, 2011. Onboard the station were Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Expedition 28 commander; Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev, both flight engineers; Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and NASA astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, all flight engineers. Onboard the shuttle were NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; and Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, both mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA
S135-E-011914 (19 July 2011) --- This picture of the International Space Station was photographed from the space shuttle Atlantis as the orbiting complex and the shuttle performed their relative separation in the early hours of July 19, 2011. Onboard the station were Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Expedition 28 commander; Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev, both flight engineers; Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and NASA astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, all flight engineers. Onboard the shuttle were NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; and Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, both mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA
S135-E-011814 (19 July 2011) --- This picture of the International Space Station was photographed from the space shuttle Atlantis as the orbiting complex and the shuttle performed their relative separation in the early hours of July 19, 2011. Onboard the station were Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Expedition 28 commander; Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev, both flight engineers; Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and NASA astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, all flight engineers. Onboard the shuttle were NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; and Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, both mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA
ISS030-E-175968 (19 Feb. 2012) --- A close look at this four-inch polished metal sphere onboard the International Space Station reveals a reflected image of NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Expedition 30 flight engineer. Using a 25-mm lens, Pettit took a series of pictures of the sphere.
ISS032-E-019559 (19 August 2012) --- Onboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, Expedition 32 crew member, holds the ball-shaped Russian Sfera satellite that was to be deployed during a planned spacewalk on Aug. 20, 2012.
S118-E-09448 (19 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by a colorful Earth, the International Space Station moves away from Space Shuttle Endeavour. Earlier the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews concluded nearly nine days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 6:56 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 19, 2007.
S117-E-08032 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
S118-E-09418 (19 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, the International Space Station moves away from Space Shuttle Endeavour. Earlier the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews concluded nearly nine days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 6:56 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 19, 2007.
S117-E-08041 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
S118-E-09435 (19 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue Earth, the International Space Station moves away from Space Shuttle Endeavour. Earlier the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews concluded nearly nine days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 6:56 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 19, 2007.
S118-E-09416 (19 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, the International Space Station moves away from Space Shuttle Endeavour. Earlier the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews concluded nearly nine days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 6:56 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 19, 2007.
S117-E-07999 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
S118-E-09447 (19 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by a colorful Earth, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Earlier the STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews concluded nearly nine days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 6:56 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 19, 2007.
S117-E-08015 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by a colorful Earth, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
S117-E-08731 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
S117-E-08001 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
Expedition 33 flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko, left, is welcomed home upon his arrival in Star City, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012 in Russia. Malenchenko, Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams and JAXA flight engineer Akihiko Hoshide landed in their Soyuz TMA-05M earlier that day in a remote area outside of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. They returned home from four months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 32 and 33 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 24 NASA Flight Engineer Doug Wheelock, left, Expedition 24 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Expedition 24 Flight Engineer Shannon Walker, third from left, walk out to salute Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov, far right, prior to their launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-19 to the International Space Station (ISS), Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)
Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock signs the inside of a Russian Search and Rescue helicopter shortly after Wheelock, Expedition 25 Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin landed in the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Friends and family members of the Soyuz MS-07 crew watch a live view of the International Space Station, as seen by cameras onboard the spacecraft with Expedition 54-55 crewmembers Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, Scott Tingle of NASA, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) onboard, on screens at the Moscow Mission Control Center as the spacecraft approaches for docking, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 in Korolev, Russia. The Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft carrying Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai docked with the International Space Station at 3:39 a.m. EST, Tuesday, Dec. 19 while 250 statute miles over the southern coast of Italy and joined Expedition 54 Commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, and NASA astronauts Joe Acaba and Mark Vande Hei. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Friends and family members of the Soyuz MS-07 crew watch a live view of the International Space Station, as seen by cameras onboard the spacecraft with Expedition 54-55 crewmembers Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, Scott Tingle of NASA, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) onboard, on screens at the Moscow Mission Control Center as the spacecraft approaches for docking, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 in Korolev, Russia. The Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft carrying Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai docked with the International Space Station at 3:39 a.m. EST, Tuesday, Dec. 19 while 250 statute miles over the southern coast of Italy and joined Expedition 54 Commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, and NASA astronauts Joe Acaba and Mark Vande Hei. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Friends and family members of the Soyuz MS-07 crew watch a live view of the International Space Station, as seen by cameras onboard the spacecraft with Expedition 54-55 crewmembers Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, Scott Tingle of NASA, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) onboard, on screens at the Moscow Mission Control Center as the spacecraft approaches for docking, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 in Korolev, Russia. The Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft carrying Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai docked with the International Space Station at 3:39 a.m. EST, Tuesday, Dec. 19 while 250 statute miles over the southern coast of Italy and joined Expedition 54 Commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, and NASA astronauts Joe Acaba and Mark Vande Hei. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin is rolled by technicians in order to assist with getting the crew out of the capsule, near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and Russian Search and Recovery Forces arrive in Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and Russian Search and Recovery Forces deploy from Karaganda to Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 25 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin is carried to a nearby medical tent near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010, following the landing of the TMA-19 spacecraft. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Doucg Wheelock and Shannon Walker, returned from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft is seen as it descends with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Shannon Walker is carried to a nearby medical tent following the landing of the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Doug Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
View from a van carrying team members from NASA and ESA to the Karaganda Airport in Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A Russian Search and Rescue helicopter lands near the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft shortly after touch down with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Engineer Shannon Walker out of the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft shortly after the capsule landed with her, Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Two Russian Search and Rescue helicopters land near the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft shortly after touch down with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin touches down near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft is seen as it descends with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Soyuz TMA-19 crewmembers including Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock, left, and Flight Engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin and Shannon Walker are seen after being removed from th capsule near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft is seen as it descends with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A technician enters the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin in order to assist with getting the crew out of the capsule, near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Shannon Walker is carried to a nearby medical tent following the landing of the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Doug Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
View from a van carrying team members from NASA and ESA to the Karaganda Airport in Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock is carried to a nearby medical tent following the landing of the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Shannon Walker, returned from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Engineer Shannon Walker out of the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft shortly after the capsule landed with her, Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and Russian Search and Recovery Forces arrive in Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and Russian Search and Recovery Forces arrive in Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock is carried to a nearby medical tent following the landing of the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Shannon Walker, returned from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft is seen as it descends with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and Russian Search and Recovery Forces deploy from Karaganda to Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan in advance of the landing of Expedition 57 crew members Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Auñón-Chancellor, Gerst, and Prokopyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 56 and 57 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A Russian Search and Rescue hellicopter is seen in eth back ground as the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft descends with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin touches down near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
ISS028-E-018039 (19 July 2011) --- This picture of the space shuttle Atlantis was photographed from the International Space Station as the orbiting complex and the shuttle performed their relative separation in the early hours of July 19, 2011. The Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module, which transported tons of supplies to the complex, can be seen in the cargo bay. It is filled with different materials from the station for return to Earth. Onboard the station were Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Expedition 28 commander; Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev, both flight engineers; Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and NASA astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, all flight engineers. Onboard the shuttle were NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, both mission specialists.
ISS028-E-018032 (19 July 2011) --- This picture of the space shuttle Atlantis was photographed from the International Space Station as the orbiting complex and the shuttle performed their relative separation in the early hours of July 19, 2011. The Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module, which transported tons of supplies to the complex, can be seen in the cargo bay. It is filled with different materials from the station for return to Earth. Onboard the station were Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Expedition 28 commander; Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev, both flight engineers; Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and NASA astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, all flight engineers. Onboard the shuttle were NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, both mission specialists.
S135-E-011867 (19 July 2011) --- This picture of the International Space Station was photographed from the space shuttle Atlantis as the orbiting complex and the shuttle performed their relative separation in the early hours of July 19, 2011 The western Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau are visible below. Onboard the station were Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Expedition 28 commander; Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev, both flight engineers; Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and NASA astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, all flight engineers. Onboard the shuttle were NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; and Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, both mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA
S117-E-08003 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
ISS014-E-12364 (19 Jan. 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue Earth, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. The Progress 24 resupply craft launched at 8:12 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 17, 2007 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver 2.5 tons of food, fuel, oxygen and other supplies to the Expedition 14 crewmembers onboard the station. Progress automatically docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 8:59 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 19 as the spacecraft and the station flew approximately 220 miles above a point near the South Atlantic off the southeast coast of Uruguay.
S117-E-08056 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
S117-E-08011 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
ISS014-E-12361 (19 Jan. 2007) --- Backdropped by a sprinkling of small clouds over a blue Earth, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. The Progress 24 resupply craft launched at 8:12 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 17, 2007 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver 2.5 tons of food, fuel, oxygen and other supplies to the Expedition 14 crewmembers onboard the station. Progress automatically docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 8:59 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 19 as the spacecraft and the station flew approximately 220 miles above a point near the South Atlantic off the southeast coast of Uruguay.
ISS014-E-12434 (19 Jan. 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. The Progress 24 resupply craft launched at 8:12 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 17, 2007 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver 2.5 tons of food, fuel, oxygen and other supplies to the Expedition 14 crewmembers onboard the station. Progress automatically docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 8:59 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 19 as the spacecraft and the station flew approximately 220 miles above a point near the South Atlantic off the southeast coast of Uruguay.
S117-E-08739 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
S117-E-08045 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.
ISS020-E-005055 (29 May 2009) --- Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka (right), Expedition 19/20 commander, welcomes cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, Expedition 20/21 flight engineer, after Romanenko arrived onboard a Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft with European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne (out of frame) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk (out of frame), both flight engineers. The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5:34 a.m. (CDT), May 27, 2009, and arrived at the station at 7:34 a.m. (CDT) on May 29, beginning Expedition 20 and six-person crew operations.
A Russian Search and Rescue helicopter and crew awaits the arrival of an all terrain vehicle carrying Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin from the medical tent shortly after he and Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineer Shannon Walker landed in the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Search and Rescue teams and medical personnel help Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock out of the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft shortly after the capsule landed with him, Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Shannon Walker and Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
ISS020-E-005050 (29 May 2009) --- Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka (right), Expedition 19/20 commander, welcomes Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20/21 flight engineer, after Thirsk arrived onboard a Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft with European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne (out of frame) and cosmonaut Roman Romanenko (out of frame), both flight engineers. The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5:34 a.m. (CDT), May 27, 2009, and arrived at the station at 7:34 a.m. (CDT) on May 29, beginning Expedition 20 and six-person crew operations.
NASA astronauts Warren Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, arrive at an employee engagement event to speak about their time onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 69, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Bowen, Hoburg, and Alneyadi spent 186 days aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 69; while Rubio set a new record for the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut, spending 371 days in orbit on an extended mission spanning Expeditions 68 and 69. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin is helped from a Russian Search and Rescue all terrain vehicle to a helicopter shortly after Yurchikhin, Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineer Shannon Walker landed in the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen, center, Warren Hoburg, left, and Frank Rubio, right, and UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, not pictured, speak about their time onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 69 during an employee engagement event Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Bowen, Hoburg, and Alneyadi spent 186 days aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 69; while Rubio set a new record for the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut, spending 371 days in orbit on an extended mission spanning Expeditions 68 and 69. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
A Russian Search and Rescue all terrain vehicle carrying Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Shannon Walker from the medical tent pulls up to a helicopter shortly after Walker, Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin landed in the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock waves to the camera as Russian Search and Rescue teams and medical personnel carry him from the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft shortly after the capsule landed with him, Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Shannon Walker and Flight Engineer Fyodor Yurchikhin near Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from nearly six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
ISS026-E-005079 (25 Nov. 2010) --- The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft departs the International Space Station on Nov. 25, 2010. Onboard are three members of Expedition 25 – NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, commander; along with NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, both flight engineers. Yurchikhin, the Soyuz commander, was at the controls of the spacecraft as it undocked at 8:23 p.m. (EST) from the station's Rassvet module. The blackness of space and Earth’s horizon provide the backdrop for the scene.
Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams of NASA smiles and gives a thumbs up in a chair outside the Soyuz Capsule after she and Flight Engineers Yuri Malenchenko of ROSCOSMOS (Russian Federal Space Agency), and Akihiko Hoshide of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), landed their Soyuz spacecraft in a remote area outside the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. Williams, Hoshide and Malenchenko returned from four months onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)