At the Kremlin Wall at Red Square in Moscow, Expedition 37/38 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov lays flowers Sept. 6 in a traditional ceremony to honor Russian space icons who are interred there. Kotov, Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA (left) signs a certification book in a traditional ceremony Sept. 6 as his Soyuz Commander, Oleg Kotov (right) looks on. Hopkins, Kotov and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Kremlin Wall at Red Square in Moscow, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy lays flowers Sept. 6 in a traditional ceremony to honor Russian space icons who are interred there. Ryazanskiy, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA answers a question from a reporter at a pre-launch news conference Sept. 6 as his crewmate, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (right) looks on. Along with Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy, Hopkins and Kotov are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Kremlin Wall at Red Square in Moscow, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (center) and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (right) pose for pictures Sept. 6 during the traditional visit to lay flowers at the wall where Russian space icons are interred. Hopkins, Kotov and Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Kremlin Wall at Red Square in Moscow, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA lays flowers Sept. 6 in a traditional ceremony to honor Russian space icons who are interred there. Hopkins, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 backup Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left) signs a certification book in a traditional ceremony Sept. 6 as his Soyuz Commander, Alexander Skvortsov (center) and backup Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev (right) look on. The trio is serving as backups to the prime crewmembers --- NASA Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy, who are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (right, front row) signs a certification book in a traditional ceremony Sept. 6 as his prime and backup crewmates look on. In the front row are prime crewmates NASA Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins (left) and Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (center). In the back row are backup crewmembers Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Alexander Skvortsov (center) and Oleg Artemyev (right). Hopkins, Kotov and Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (front row, center) signs a certification book in a traditional ceremony Sept. 6 as his prime and backup crewmates look on. In the front row are prime crewmates NASA Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins (left) and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (right). In the back row are backup crewmembers Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Alexander Skvortsov (center) and Oleg Artemyev (right). Hopkins, Kotov and Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA hands the microphone to an interpreters after answering a question from a reporter at a pre-launch news conference Sept. 6 as his crewmate, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (right) looks on. Along with Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy, Hopkins and Kotov are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (center) holds up a certificate proclaiming his readiness to launch and his crewmate, Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (right) holds up a crew portrait Sept. 6 as NASA Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins (left) looks on. Hopkins, Kotov and Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

With the onion dome spires of St. Basil’s Cathedral serving as a backdrop, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA (front row, left), Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (front row, center) and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (front row, right) lead the way along the Kremlin Wall in Red Square in Moscow to lay flowers Sept. 6 in a traditional ceremony to honor Russian space icons who are interred there. Kotov, Hopkins and Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

On a rainy day at Red Square in Moscow, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA poses for pictures Sept. 6 in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral during a traditional trip to lay flowers at the Kremlin Wall where Russian space icons are interred. In the background is backup crewmember Oleg Artemyev. Hopkins, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

#3263 - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 backup crewmembers Kjell Lindgren of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator October 30 as part of their final qualification exams for flight. They are the backups to the prime crew --- Terry Virts of NASA, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency --- who are in the final stages of training for launch November 24, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft to begin a five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Kremlin Wall at Red Square in Moscow, Five of the six Expedition 37/38 prime and backup crewmembers pose for pictures Sept. 6 during the traditional visit to lay flowers at the wall where Russian space icons are interred. With the onion domed spires of St. Basil’s Cathedral in the background, from left to right are backup NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson, prime Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA, prime Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov, prime Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy and backup Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev. Hopkins, Kotov and Ryazanskiy are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (second from left) holds a toy cat mascot during a pre-launch news conference Sept. 6 as his crewmates, Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA (far left) and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (second from the right) look on. Also participating in the news conference was the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center, Sergei Krikalev (far right). The mascot will be mounted inside the crew’s Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft over Kotov’s head as a “zero-g indicator” once the crew launches. Their launch to the International Space Station is set for Sept. 26, Kazakh time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (center) and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (right) hold a replica of the Olympic torch Sept. 6 following a crew news conference at their training facility outside Moscow. The trio is preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, aboard the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. The torch that will light the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia Feb. 7, 2014 will be flown the space station by another crew in November and brought home several days later as part of a global and galactic Olympic relay. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

JSC2014-E-079812 (5 Sept. 2014) --- Accompanied by his wife and daughters at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41 Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA takes a walk through the Gagarin Museum Sept. 5. Wilmore, Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Elena Serova of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft for a 5 ? month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to conduct a long duration mission on the station. Photo credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

NASA/Stephanie Stoll

NASA/Stephanie Stoll

NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, training instructors monitor the work of Expedition 48-49 prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos during final qualification exams May 26. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Accompanied by his wife, ISS Expedition 48-49 crewmember Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos walks to a bus at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia June 24 as he and his crewmates departed for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Kate Rubins of NASA, Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 prime crewmember Kate Rubins of NASA signs in for the start of final qualification exams May 26 as her crewmates, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left) and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) look on. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA (left), Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) pose for pictures May 26 during a final qualification exam session. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA (left), Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) pose for pictures May 26 during a final qualification exam session. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 prime crewmembers Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) and Kate Rubins of NASA (right) report to officials May 26 at the start of final qualification exams. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 prime crewmember Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency signs in for the start of final qualification exams May 26 as his crewmates, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (left) and Kate Rubins of NASA (right) look on. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ISS Expedition 48-49 crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA (left), Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) answer questions from reporters June 24 before departing for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

ISS Expedition 48-49 crewmember Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency departs the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia June 24 for his launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and final pre-launch training. In the background on the right is crewmate Kate Rubins of NASA. Rubins, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Onishi will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 backup crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA (left), Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos (center) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (right) arrive for Soyuz qualification exams May 26. They are serving as the backups to prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, who will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the ISS Expedition 48-49 prime and backup crewmembers pose for pictures in front of the statue of Vladimir Lenin June 24 as they departed for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. From left to right are backup crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA, Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency and prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Rubins, Ivanishin and Onishi will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 backup crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA (left), Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos (center) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator during Soyuz qualification exams May 26. They are serving as the backups to prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, who will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ISS Expedition 48-49 prime crewmember Kate Rubins of NASA (left) shares a lighthearted moment June 24 with backup crewmember Peggy Whitson of NASA before departing for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Rubins, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ISS Expedition 48-49 backup crewmember Peggy Whitson of NASA (left) shares a lighthearted moment June 24 with legendary cosmonaut Alexey Leonov, the first human to walk in space, as Whitson and other crewmembers departed for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 backup crewmember Peggy Whitson of NASA flashes a smile in front of a Soyuz simulator May 26 during final qualification exams. Whitson, Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency and Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos are serving as the backups to prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, who will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

ISS Expedition 48-49 crewmember Kate Rubins of NASA (left) flashes a smile June 24 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia before flying to her launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final pre-launch training. Looking on are crewmate Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) and backup crewmember Peggy Whitson of NASA (background). Rubins, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Onishi will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 backup crewmember Peggy Whitson of NASA signs in for Soyuz qualification exams May 26. Whitson, Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency and Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos are serving as the backups to prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, who will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ISS Expedition 48-49 prime crewmembers Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), Kate Rubins of NASA (center) and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (right) walk to their bus June 24 as they departed for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. In the background on the left is backup crewmember Peggy Whitson of NASA and in the background center is backup crewmember Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos. Rubins, Ivanishin and Onishi will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 backup crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA (left), Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos (center) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (right) field questions from reporters in front of a Soyuz simulator during Soyuz qualification exams May 26. They are serving as the backups to prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, who will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 backup crewmember Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency signs in for Soyuz qualification exams May 26. Pesquet, Peggy Whitson of NASA and Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos are serving as the backups to prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, who will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, a wintry scene serves as a backdrop for a familiar sight – Lenin’s Statue --- commemorating Vladimir Lenin’s who led an evolving Soviet Union from 1917-1924. The photo was captured on Nov. 1, 2016. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, ISS Expedition 48-49 backup crewmember Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (left) shares a moment with prime crewmember Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency June 24 before heading to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Onishi will launch July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 35-36 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy of NASA (right), and his backup, NASA’s Michael Hopkins tour the Gagarin Museum during a traditional tour March 7. Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin will launch to the International Space Station March 29, Kazakh time, on their Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA / Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 35-36 backup crewmembers Oleg Kotov (left), Sergey Ryazanskiy (center) and Michael Hopkins of NASA (right) pose for pictures during a pre-launch news conference March 7. The three crewmembers are in training as backups to Chris Cassidy of NASA, Alexander Misurkin and Pavel Vinogradov who are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station March 29, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA / Stephanie Stoll

At the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden poses for pictures Nov. 20 as he awaited the docking of the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft to the International Space Station. Aboard the Soyuz were Expedition 50-51 crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA, Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA signs in for the start of final qualification training April 30 as she and her crewmates prepare for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Nyberg is launching with Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

3981a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 crewmember Terry Virts of NASA pauses to look at Russian space memorabilia during a tour of the Gagarin Museum Nov. 6. Virts, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency will launch Nov. 24, Kazakh time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on their Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 27 backup crew members Anton Shklaperov, Anatoly Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank of NASA (far right), participate in a news conference held March 11, 2011 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. The prime crew of Ron Garan, Andrey Borisenko and Alexander Samokutyaev will launch in the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 30 (Kazakhstan time) for a 5 ½ month stay on the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 32/33 Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), NASA Flight Engineer Sunita Williams (center) and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko grasped hands at the completion of a pre-launch news conference June 22, 2012. The crew will travel to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan July 2 for final preparations leading to their launch July 15 to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

With famed St. Basil’s Cathedral serving as a backdrop, Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin (center) and Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures May 8 during a ceremonial tour of Red Square in Moscow. Nyberg, Yurchikhin and Parmitano are preparing for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 50-51 crewmember Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) poses for a picture Nov. 1 with his daughter at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia before departing for his launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Novitskiy, Peggy Whitson of NASA and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency will launch Nov. 18, Baikonur time, on the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 49-50 prime crewmembers Shane Kimbrough of NASA (left) and Andrey Borisenko (center) and Sergey Ryzhikov (right) of Roscosmos respond to reporters questions Aug. 30 at the start of two days of final qualification exams. The trio is preparing for launch on Sept. 24 (Kazakh time) on their Soyuz MS-02 vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA flashes an “all ok” sign Sept. 13 after boarding a bus at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City with his crewmates for a ride to nearby airport and a flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Hopkins, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy will launch from Baikonur Sept. 26, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft for a five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 34/35 Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko (left), Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency (center) and Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn of NASA pose for pictures in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow Nov. 29, 2012 during a tour of Red Square during which they laid flowers at the Kremlin Wall where Russian space heroes are interred. The trio will launch to the International Space Station Dec. 19 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in their Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency flashes a smile April 30 as he and his crewmates began final qualification training for their launch to the International Space Station. Parmitano, Karen Nyberg of NASA and Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin will launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 5 ½ month mission on the international outpost. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos lays flowers in a tribute to Russian space icons who are interred there as part of ceremonial activities. Skvortsov, NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artmeyev of Roscosmos are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Striking a pose in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral at Red Square in Moscow, Expedition 39/40 crewmembers Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos (center) and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) took time from ceremonial activities March 6 for a photo opportunity. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, trainers monitor a simulation run by Expedition 38/39 Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin, NASA Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio and Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Oct. 17, 2013. The simulation was part of the final qualifications exams for the crew, which is scheduled to launch on Nov. 7, local time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 49 crewmember Shane Kimbrough of NASA flashes a smile Sept. 8 as he prepares to board a bus that took him and Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos to nearby Chkalovsky Airfield and a flight to the launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where they will launch on Sept. 24, Kazakh time on the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

(2 May, 2012) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Russia on May 2, 2012, the prime crew members who will round out Expedition 31 on the International Space Station prepare for their farewell sendoff to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. From left to right are Flight Engineer Sergei Revin, Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka, and NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba. The three are scheduled to launch to the space station on May 15 in their Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 38/39 Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA signs in for final qualification exam simulations Oct. 17, 2013. Mastracchio, Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin and Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are scheduled to launch on Nov. 7, local time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

1069: At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow’s Red Square, Expedition 40/41 Soyuz Commander Max Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) lays flowers May 8 at the spot where Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space, is interred. Suraev, Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency and Reid Wiseman of NASA are preparing for launch May 29, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 34/35 prime crew clasps hands at the conclusion of a news conference Nov. 29, 2012 as they complete preparations for launch Dec. 19 to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. From left to right are NASA Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn, Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko and Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (right) says goodbye to his daughter May 16 before boarding a bus at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Parmitano, Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA and Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin flew to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final preparations for launch May 29, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft and the start of a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 32/33 Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), NASA Flight Engineer Sunita Williams (center) and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko (right) posed for pictures in front of the Tsar Bell at the Kremlin in Moscow June 22, 2012 as part of their traditional pre-flight ceremonial activities. The trio will fly to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan July 2 for final preparations for their launch July 15 to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos lays flowers in a tribute to Russian space icons who are interred there as part of ceremonial activities. Artmeyev, NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (center) and Sergey Ryazanskiy (right) meet with Russian and U.S. officials at the start of a round of qualification exams Sept. 4. The trio is in final training for launch on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

2454: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 41/42 backup crewmembers Mikhail Kornienko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and NASA’s Scott Kelly pose for pictures Sept. 5 at the Gagarin Museum. Kelly and Kornienko will launch in March 2015 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft to spend a full year on the complex. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 49-50 prime crewmembers Shane Kimbrough of NASA (left) and Andrey Borisenko (center) and Sergey Ryzhikov (right) of Roscosmos report to officials Aug. 30 for the start of two days of final qualification exams. The trio is preparing for launch on Sept. 24 (Kazakh time) on their Soyuz MS-02 vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 33/34 Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA strikes a thoughtful pose as he listens to questions from reporters September 21, 2012 during final qualification training exams at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Ford and his crewmates, Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Evgeny Tarelkin, are scheduled to launch in their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft on October 23 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station.Photo Credit: Stephanie Stoll/NASA

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 39/40 prime crewmembers pose for pictures at the Gagarin Museum March 6. From left to right are Steve Swanson of NASA, Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 32/33 Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), NASA Flight Engineer Sunita Williams (center) and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko (right) posed for pictures in front of the Tsar Cannon at the Kremlin in Moscow June 22, 2012 as part of their traditional pre-flight ceremonial activities. The trio will fly to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan July 2 for final preparations for their launch July 15 to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

On the front screen in the cavernous control room at the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, the Expedition 50 crewmembers receive congratulatory calls from friends and family Nov. 20 following the arrival of Peggy Whitson of NASA, Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency at the International Space Station on the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft. Hatches opened between the Soyuz and the station about two and a half hours after the Soyuz docked to the complex. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency takes a stroll through Red Square in Moscow in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral May 8 with his wife, Kathy Dillow, and their daughters. Parmitano, Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA are preparing for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

On the front screen in the cavernous control room at the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, the Expedition 50 crewmembers receive congratulatory calls from friends and family Nov. 20 following the arrival of Peggy Whitson of NASA, Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency at the International Space Station on the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft. Hatches opened between the Soyuz and the station about two and a half hours after the Soyuz docked to the complex. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 50-51 crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA (left), Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center, holding his daughter) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (right) walk to a bus Nov. 1 that will take them to their plane to fly to their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The trio will launch Nov. 18, Baikonur time, on the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

With St. Basil’s Cathedral serving as a backdrop, Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin (center) and Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures during a traditional tour of Red Square in Moscow May 8. The three crewmembers are preparing for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 49 crewmembers Shane Kimbrough of NASA (left) and Sergey Ryzhikov (center) and Andrey Borisenko (right) of Roscosmos walk to busses Sept. 8 that will take them to nearby Chkalovsky Airfield and a flight to the launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where they will launch on Sept. 24, Kazakh time on the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA takes a moment to pay tribute to Russian space icons interred in the Kremlin Wall during a tour of Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow May 8. Nyberg, Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency are preparing for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

JSC2010-E-132986 (17 Sept. 2010) --- Russian cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka (left), Expedition 25 flight engineer, and Alexander Kaleri (center), Soyuz commander, along with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (right), flight engineer, pose for pictures in front of the Tsar Cannon at the Kremlin in Moscow Sept. 17, 2010 as part of the ceremonial activities leading to their launch Oct. 8 (Kazakhstan time) in the Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft for a 5 ? month stay on the International Space Station. Photo credit: Stephanie Stoll/NASA

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 49-50 prime crewmembers Shane Kimbrough of NASA (left) and Andrey Borisenko (center) and Sergey Ryzhikov (right) of Roscosmos wave to reporters Aug. 30 at the start of two days of final qualification exams. The trio is preparing for launch on Sept. 24 (Kazakh time) on their Soyuz MS-02 vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos smiles before entering a Soyuz spacecraft simulator during qualification exams March 5. Skvortsov, NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Star City, Russia March 26, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Taking time out from their ceremonial activities at the Kremlin in Moscow, Expedition 39/40 crewmembers Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos (center) and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) pose for pictures in front of the Tsar Cannon March 6. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 32/33 Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), NASA Flight Engineer Sunita Williams (center) and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko answered questions during a pre-launch news conference June 22, 2012. The crew will travel to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan July 2 for final preparations leading to their launch July 15 to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Russian instructors monitor the performance of Expedition 37/38 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov, Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA and Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy Sept. 4 as they conducted a qualification exam in a Soyuz spacecraft simulator. The trio is in final training for launch on Sept. 26, Kazakh time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

During a traditional tour of Red Square in Moscow March 7, Expedition 35-36 Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov laid flowers at the Kremlin Wall where Russian space icons are interred. Vinogradov, NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin will launch to the International Space Station March 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA / Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 37/38 prime crewmembers check in with Russian officials Sept. 3 prior to the start of a round of qualification exams for their launch to the International Space Station later this month. Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy (left), Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov (center) and NASA Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins (right) are in the final weeks of training for their launch Sept. 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in their Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

With a few snow flurries falling on an otherwise sunny day, Expedition 35-36 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy of NASA walked through the grounds of the Kremlin in Moscow March 7 during a traditional tour of the Kremlin and Red Square. Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin are preparing for launch to the International Space Station March 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA / Stephanie Stoll

3779a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 prime crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures following a news conference Nov. 6. Virts, Cristoforetti and Shkaplerov will launch Nov. 24, Kazakh time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on their Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 35-36 Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov prepares to enter a Soyuz spacecraft mockup March 5 for the start of qualification simulation runs. Vinogradov, NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin are training for launch March 29, Kazakh time, to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA / Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 35-36 prime crewmembers Chris Cassidy of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov (center) and Alexander Misurkin (right) answer questions from the news media March 4 before the start of qualification simulations in Soyuz and Russian segment trainers. The three crewmembers are preparing for their launch March 29 (Kazakh time) to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA / Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos (center) and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right) field questions from reporters March 5 prior to qualification exams. They are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Star City, Russia March 26, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

(2 May, 2012) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Russia on May 2, 2012, Expedition 31 Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka kisses his granddaughter goodbye as his one of his daughters, left, looks on. Padalka, along with flight engineers Joe Acaba of NASA and cosmonaut Sergei Revin, flew to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for final preparations for their launch to the International Space Station on May 15 in their Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 50-51 crewmembers Peggy Whitson of NASA (left), Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center, holding his daughter) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (right) walk to a bus Nov. 1 that will take them to their plane to fly to their launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The trio will launch Nov. 18, Baikonur time, on the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 49-50 prime crewmember Shane Kimbrough of NASA responds to a reporter’s question Aug. 30 at the start of two days of final qualification exams. Kimbrough and Andrey Borisenko (right) and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos are preparing for launch on Sept. 24 (Kazakh time) on their Soyuz MS-02 vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin (center) and Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (right), clasp hands April 30 as they began final qualification training for their launch to the International Space Station. The three crewmembers will launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 5 ½ month mission on the international outpost. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 39/40 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos smiles before entering a Soyuz spacecraft simulator during qualification exams March 5. Skvortsov, NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Star City, Russia March 26, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Expedition 39/40 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA (front, left), Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos (front, center) and Oleg Artemyev (front, right) arrive at Red Square in Moscow by the Kremlin March 6 for the ceremonial laying of flowers at the Kremlin Wall in tribute to Russian space icons who are interred there. Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 26, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for a six-month mission. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Museum at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 35-36 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy of NASA (right) signs a ceremonial book March 7 during traditional pre-launch activities as his crewmate, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov (left) looks on. Cassidy, Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin will launch to the International Space Station March 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosomodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA / Stephanie Stoll