Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) performs the traditional door signing at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing the hotel for launch on a Soyuz rocket with fellow cremates flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, Shkaplerov, and Tingle will launch in their Soyuz MS-07 to the International Space Station to begin a five month mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) performs the traditional door signing at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing the hotel for launch on a Soyuz rocket with fellow cremates flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, Shkaplerov, and Tingle will launch in their Soyuz MS-07 to the International Space Station to begin a five month mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

iss055e005656 (March 26, 2018) --- Expedition 55 Flight Engineers (from left) Norishige Kanai, Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel gather inside the Unity module and take part in a spacewalk procedure conference with specialists on the ground at the Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas.

iss054e047933 (Feb. 16, 2018) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 53 Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei is pictured servicing components on the Canadarm2 robotic arm during a spacewalk with astronaut Norishige Kanai (out of frame) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) answers a question during a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai and fellow crewmates Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai is carried to a medical tent shortly after he and fellow Expedition 55 crew mates Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle landed in their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai and fellow crewmates Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai is carried to a medical tent shortly after he and fellow Expedition 55 crew mates Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle landed in their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai is helped out of the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft just minutes after he, NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai is seen during a Karaganda Airport welcome ceremony in Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Kanai, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai rest in a chair outside the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft after he Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai is seen during a Karaganda Airport welcome ceremony in Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Kanai, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai departs the medical tent shortly after he and fellow Expedition 55 crew members, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle landed in their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seen in quarantine, behind glass, during a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seen in quarantine, behind glass, during a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), top, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, middle, and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, bottom, are seen as they arrive at the launch pad to board the Soyuz MS-07 rocket for launch, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Tingle, Norishige Kanai, and Shkaplerov will spend the next five months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, top, flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), middle, and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, bottom, wave farewell prior to boarding the Soyuz MS-07 rocket for launch, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Tingle, Norishige Kanai, and Shkaplerov will spend the next five months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, top, flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), middle, and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, bottom, wave farewell prior to boarding the Soyuz MS-07 rocket for launch, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Tingle, Norishige Kanai, and Shkaplerov will spend the next five months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

iss055e098144 (3/15/2018) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai is shown in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) aboard the International Space Station (ISS), working with the Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Two-Phase Flow (TPF) Experiment. The Interfacial behaviors and Heat transfer characteristics in Boiling Two-Phase Flow (Two-Phase Flow) investigation helps to provide better fundamental understanding on the behavior of liquid-vapor flow, and the mechanism of heat transfer under microgravity.

iss054e005575 (12-26-2017) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai poses for a photo with the installed Made in Space Fiber Optics Locker and the re-installed Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) Manufacturing Device (ManD). Photo was taken in the Destiny U.S. Laboratory abord the International Space Station (ISS). The Optical Fiber Production in Microgravity (Made In Space Fiber Optics) investigation demonstrates the merits of manufacturing fiber optic filaments in microgravity.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai arrives at the Karaganda Airport in Kazakhstan airport after he and fellow Expedition 55 crew members Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle landed in their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai, left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, center, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle sit in chairs outside the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft after they landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai, left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, center, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle sit in chairs outside the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft after they landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox Priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos will spend the next five months living and working onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 52 backup crew member Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seen during a crew press conference at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), Monday, July 10, 2017 in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 52 backup crew member Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) lays roses at the site where Russian space icons are interred as part of traditional pre-launch ceremonies, Monday, July 10, 2017 in Moscow. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) waves as he waits to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle and fellow crewmates Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai, left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, center, and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle are seen in a group photo with other others at a Karaganda Airport welcome ceremony in Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Kandi, Shkaplerov, and Tingle are returning after 168 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 54 and 55 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), right, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, pose for a picture at the conclusion of a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), right, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, pose for a picture at the conclusion of a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seen after the opening of the hatches between the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft and the International Space Station on the screens in the Moscow Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia a few hours after the Soyuz MS-07 docked to the International Space Station on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Hatches were opened at 5:55 a.m. EST and Shkaplerov, Scott Tingle of NASA, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) joined Expedition 54 Commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos and crewmates Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba of NASA aboard the orbiting laboratory. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai and fellow crewmates flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, left, are seen in quarantine, behind glass, during a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, Shkaplerov, and Tingle are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai and fellow crewmates flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai and fellow crewmates flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) speaks during the State Commission meeting to approve the Soyuz launch of Expedition 54 to the International Space Station, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA are seen as they depart Building 254 and report to mission managers ahead of their launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai, Shkaplerov, and Tingle on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai and fellow crewmates flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) speaks with family and friends after having his Russian Sokol suits pressure checked ahead of the Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA are seen as they depart Building 254 and report to mission managers ahead of their launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai, Shkaplerov, and Tingle on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA during a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, Shkaplerov, and Tingle are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) speaks with family and friends after having his Russian Sokol suits pressure checked ahead of the Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, center, and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, right, wave farewell to family and friends as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for 2:21 a.m. Eastern Time (1:21 p.m. Baikonur time) on December 17 and will send Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, are seen as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for 2:21 a.m. Eastern Time (1:21 p.m. Baikonur time) on December 17 and will send Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, center, and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, right, wave farewell to family and friends as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for 2:21 a.m. Eastern Time (1:21 p.m. Baikonur time) on December 17 and will send Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, are seen as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for 2:21 a.m. Eastern Time (1:21 p.m. Baikonur time) on December 17 and will send Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, wave farewell to family and friends as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for 2:21 a.m. Eastern Time (1:21 p.m. Baikonur time) on December 17 and will send Shkaplerov, Tingle, and Kanai on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, are seen during the State Commission meeting to approve the Soyuz launch of Expedition 54 to the International Space Station, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, Shkaplerov, and Tingle are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Dec. 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

jsc2017e135202 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signs in for the start of the crew’s final qualification exam activities Nov. 29. Kanai, Scott Tingle of NASA and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Elizabeth Weissinger.

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle, Kanai, and Shkaplerov on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle, Kanai, and Shkaplerov on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle, Kanai, and Shkaplerov on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle, Kanai, and Shkaplerov on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

nhq2017070600101 (July 6, 2017) --- Expedition 52 backup crew members: Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, center, and Mark Vande Hei of NASA begin their Soyuz qualification exams, Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq2017070600100 (July 6, 2017) --- Expedition 52 backup crew members: Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, center, and Mark Vande Hei of NASA begin their Soyuz qualification exams, Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 52 backup crew members Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, center, and Mark Vande Hei of NASA pose for a photograph in front of Saint Basil's Cathedral as they visited Red Square to lay roses at the site where Russian space icons are interred as part of traditional pre-launch ceremonies, Monday, July 10, 2017 in Moscow. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos is seen as he is escorted to the base of the Soyuz rocket prior to boarding for launch, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Shkaplerov, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will spend the next five months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

nhq2017070600103 (July 6, 2017) --- Expedition 52 backup crew members: Mark Vande Hei of NASA, left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, center, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams, Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq2017070600118 (July 6, 2017) --- Expedition 52 backup crew members: NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, left, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos are seen as they answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams with Expedition 52 backup crew member Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Norishige Kanai, Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Beth Weissinger)

nhq2017070600104 (July 6, 2017) --- Expedition 52 backup crew members: Mark Vande Hei of NASA, left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, center, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) pose for a photograph outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams, Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 52 backup crew members Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, center, and Mark Vande Hei of NASA lay roses at the site where Russian space icons are interred as part of traditional pre-launch ceremonies, Monday, July 10, 2017 in Moscow. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, second from left, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, third from left, pose for a picture with backup crew members Jeanette Epps of NASA, third from right, Sergey Prokopev of Roscosmos, second from right, and Alex Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), right, at the conclusion of a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, along with backup crew members Jeanette Epps of NASA, Sergey Prokopev of Roscosmos, and Alex Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), are seen as they enter a room for a press conference, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 17. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

jsc2017e136049 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) listens to a reporter’s question during a crew news conference Nov. 30. Kanai, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Scott Tingle of NASA will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e138116 - At the Korolev Museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signs a wall mural Dec. 13 as part of traditional pre-launch ceremonies. Kanai, Scott Tingle of NASA and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e135207 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Space Agency (JAXA) listens to a reporters’ question Nov. 29 as part of the crew’s final qualification exam activities. Kanai, Scott Tingle of NASA and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Elizabeth Weissinger.

Expedition 54 prime crew members flight engineer Norishige Kanai of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, right, pose for a picture with backup crew members of NASA, right, Sergey Prokopev of Roscosmos, center, and Alex Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), right after donning their Russian Sokol suits in preparation for launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle, Kanai, and Shkaplerov on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Andrey Shelepin)

iss054e004175 (Dec. 23, 2017) --- Expedition 54 crew members watch the movie "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" on the big screen in the Harmony module. From left, are Flight Engineers Joe Acaba and Scott Tingle, Commander Alexander Misurkin, and Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Norishige Kanai.

jsc2017e138119 - In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers pose for pictures Dec. 13 in front of the first stage of the Soyuz booster rocket. From left to right are Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Scott Tingle of NASA and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), who will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e137343 - At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Scott Tingle of NASA (left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, right) pose for pictures by a model of a Soyuz rocket Dec. 11. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e137335 - At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Scott Tingle of NASA (center) and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, right) confer with Soyuz spacecraft trainers Dec. 11 as part of their pre-launch training. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e138118 - In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers pose for pictures Dec. 13 in front of the first stage of the Soyuz booster rocket. From left to right are Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Scott Tingle of NASA and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), who will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e136448 - In the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) pose for pictures in front of their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft Dec. 5 as part of their first fit check dress rehearsal activities. They will launch Dec. 17 in the Soyuz MS-07 vehicle for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Courtesy of Roscosmos.

jsc2017e137341 - At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Scott Tingle of NASA (left) and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) test their vestibular skills on tilt tables Dec. 11 as part of their pre-launch training. Along with Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), they will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e138125 - At the Korolev Museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) display souvenir “launch keys) during traditional pre-flight ceremonies Dec. 13. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e136095 - Expedition 54-55 crewmembers Scott Tingle of NASA (left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, right) pose for pictures on their crew bus upon their arrival Dec. 4 at their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e138117 - At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers pose for pictures Dec. 13 in front of the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft during pre-launch training. Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 vehicle for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Expedition 52 prime and backup crews: Paolo Nespoli of ESA, left, Randy Bresnik of NASA, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and, Mark Vande Hei of NASA pose for group photograph at the conclusion of their crew press conference at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), Monday, July 10, 2017 in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, left, Randy Bresnik of NASA, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and backup crew members, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, Mark Vande Hei of NASA, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), right, pose for a group photograph in Red Square after having laid roses at the site where Russian space icons are interred as part of traditional pre-launch ceremonies, Monday, July 10, 2017 in Moscow. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

ISS-054 Mission Patch for Mark Vande Hei, Alexander Misurkin, Scott Tingle, Norishige Kanai, Alexander Skvortsov.

jsc2017e129519 (Jan. 18, 2017) --- Astronaut and Expedition 54-55 Flight Engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

jsc2017e136060 - On a snowy night at Red Square in Moscow, Expedition 54-55 crewmember Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) lays flowers at the Kremlin Wall where Russian space icons are interred in traditional pre-launch ceremonies Nov. 30. Kanai, Scott Tingle of NASA and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft Dec. 17 for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e136053 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) pose for pictures Nov. 30 during traditional pre-launch activities. Shkaplerov, Tingle and Kanai will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e137338 - At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) tries his hand at a game of billiards Dec. 11 during a break in pre-launch training while backup crewmember Jeanette Epps of NASA looks on. Kanai, Scott Tingle of NASA and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e137336 - At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Scott Tingle of NASA (left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, right) are greeted by a kitty cat Dec. 11 as they take a stroll around the grounds of the complex. Minus the kitty cat, they will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e137333 - At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Scott Tingle of NASA (left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, right) discuss the significance of their Soyuz mission insignia during a question and answer session with reporters Dec. 11. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e138122 - At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) walk from their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft Dec. 13 at the conclusion of a second dress rehearsal fit check activity. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 vehicle for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e138115 - At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) walk from their Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft Dec. 13 at the conclusion of a second dress rehearsal fit check activity. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 vehicle for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e138128 - At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) answer reporters’ questions in front of the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft Dec. 13 at the conclusion of a second dress rehearsal fit check activity. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 vehicle for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e137334 - At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) practice rendezvous and docking techniques on a laptop computer simulator Dec. 11 as part of their pre-launch training. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

iss054e014016 (Jan. 2, 2018) --- Astronaut Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency tries on a pair of spacesuit sleeves inside the Quest airlock. To either side of Kanai are the U.S. spacesuits that were being readied for a pair of robotics maintenance spacewalks.

jsc2017e136101 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) answer reporters’ questions Dec. 4 prior to their departure for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They are scheduled to launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e135199 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA (right) report to officials Nov. 29 for the start of their final qualification exam activities. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Elizabeth Weissinger.

jsc2017e136099 - Expedition 54-55 crewmembers Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA, left), Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Scott Tingle of NASA report to Russian space officials upon their arrival Dec. 4 at their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2017e137337 - At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Scott Tingle of NASA plays a game of chess Dec. 11 during a break in his pre-launch training. Tingle, Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will launch Dec. 17 on the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a five month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin / Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Expedition 54 flight engineers Scott Tingle of NASA, bottom left, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, bottom center, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) bottom right, are seen with flight engineer Joe Acaba of NASA, top left, Commander Alexander Misurkin, top center, and flight engineer Mark Vande Hei of NASA, top right, on a video monitor as they speak with family and friends at the Moscow Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia a few hours after the Soyuz MS-07 docked to the International Space Station on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, seated left, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, seated center, Randy Bresnik of NASA, seated right, joined by backup crew members, Norishige Kanai, standing left, Alexander Misurkin, not pictured, and Mark Vande Hei, right, are seen as they sign a guest book at the "Memorial working study of Yuri Gagarin" at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), Monday, July 10, 2017 in Star City, Russia. The memorial study represents Gagarin's working study in the way it was abandoned by Gagarin on March 27, 1968 before leaving for the airfield for training flight that became his last. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 54 flight engineers Scott Tingle of NASA, bottom left, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, bottom center, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) bottom right, are seen with flight engineer Joe Acaba of NASA, top left, Commander Alexander Misurkin, top center, and flight engineer Mark Vande Hei of NASA, top right, on a video monitor as they U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman Jr. at the Moscow Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia a few hours after the Soyuz MS-07 docked to the International Space Station on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

nhq2017070600102 (July 6, 2017) --- Expedition 52 backup crew members: Mark Vande Hei of NASA, suited left, Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos, center, and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) meet with, Cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko, left, Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, Deputy Director, GCTC, Cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri, and John McBrine, NASA Director of Operations, GCTC ahead of the crew's Soyuz qualification exams, Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)