jsc2019e004060 (Feb. 20, 2019) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crew member Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos is seen inside a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualification exams. Ovchinin and crewmates Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Beth Weissinger

jsc2019e004059 (Feb. 20, 2019) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crew member Nick Hague of NASA is seen inside a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualification exams. Hague, Christina Koch of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Beth Weissinger

jsc2019e004057 (Feb. 20, 2019) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crew member Christina Koch of NASA boards a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualifications exams. Koch, Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Beth Weissinger

S75-21720 (14 Feb. 1975) --- Astronaut Alan L. Bean (foreground) and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov participate in Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training in Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center. They are in the Apollo Command Module trainer. The training session simulated activities on the first day in Earth orbit. Bean is the commander of the American ASTP backup crew. Leonov is the commander of the Soviet ASTP first (prime) crew.

S74-28649 (16 Sept. 1974) --- Three crewmen of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project are seated in a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft orbital module mock-up in Building 35 during ASTP simulation training at the Johnson Space Center. They are cosmonaut Anatoliy V. Filipchenko (left background), commander of the Soviet ASTP second (backup) crew; cosmonaut Nikolay N. Rukavishnikov (left foreground), engineer on the crew; and astronaut Vance D. Brand (right), command module pilot of the American ASTP prime crew. The hatch in the background leads to the Docking Module. During the exercise the American ASTP crew and the Soviet ASTP crew simulated docking the Apollo and Soyuz in Earth orbit and transferring to each other?s spacecraft. Here, Brand is visiting the Soyuz spacecraft. The crewmen are training in both the U.S. and the USSR for the joint mission scheduled for the summer of 1975.

S74-29041 (September 1974) --- The commanders of the American astronaut and Soviet cosmonaut crews for the joint U.S.?USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission compare notes in a Soyuz spacecraft?s orbital module mock-up in Building 35 at the Johnson Space Center during a training and simulation exercise. They are Aleksey A. Leonov, right, and Thomas P. Stafford. The hatchway in the background leads to the Docking Module. The prime crewmen, along with backup crewmen, are training in both the U.S. and USSR for the joint mission scheduled for the summer of 1975.

S75-21715 (19 Feb. 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov focuses his camera for an interior shot during a simulation exercise for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). Leonov is inside the Soyuz orbital module mock-up in Building 35 at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), scene of current simulations for the joint U.S.-USSR space mission scheduled for July of this year. Astronauts and cosmonauts were taking part in second-day activity simulations when this photo was made. Leonov is the Soviet ASTP crew commander.

S75-23880 (20 March 1975) --- An overall view of the Mission Operations Control Room in the Mission Control Center during ASTP joint simulation activity at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Flight director Donald R. Puddy (stripped shirt) is seated at his console on the right. The television monitor in the left background shows a scene from the ASTP control center in the Soviet Union. The simulations are part of the preparations for the U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit scheduled for July 1975.

S75-21627 (13 Feb. 1975) --- Two crewmen of the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission participate in ASTP training in Building 35 at the Johnson Space Center. They are astronaut Vance D. Brand (left), command module pilot of the American ASTP prime crew; and cosmonaut Valeriy N. Kubasov, engineer on the Soviet ASTP first (prime) crew. They are in the Soyuz spacecraft orbital module mock-up. Brand and Kubasov are going through a walk-through simulation of the second day of activities in Earth orbit. Brand takes some pictures.

S75-22785 (25 Feb. 1975) --- An interior view of the Docking Module trainer, in Building 35, during Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) joint crew training at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC). Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander of the American ASTP prime crew, is on the right. The other crewman is cosmonaut Aleksky A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet ASTP prime crew. The training session simulated activities on the second day in Earth orbit. The American and Soviet crews will visit each other's spacecraft during the July 1975 docking mission in Earth orbit. The Docking Module is designed to link the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft.

S75-21945 (24 Feb. 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov (left) and astronaut Thomas P. Stafford take part in Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training in Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center. They are commanders of their respective prime crews. The training session simulated the activities of the second day in Earth orbit. Stafford and Leonov are in the Docking Module mock-up.

S75-21674 (17 Feb. 1975) --- Astronaut Donald K. Slayton, docking module pilot on the American ASTP prime crew, participates in Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training in Building 35 at the Johnson Space Center. He is in the Docking Module mock-up. The training simulated activities on the first day in Earth orbit.

Expedition 50 crew members ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson conduct their final qualification exams inside a Soyuz simulator, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

S75-21716 (19 Feb. 1975) --- Prime crew commanders for the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) take a break from busy simulations at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) to enjoy a lighter moment. Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov sticks his head through the Soyuz orbital module mock-up in the Flight Crew Training Facility (Building 35) at JSC, while his American counterpart, astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, looks on. The two men were pausing from a simulation of joint crew second-day ASTP activities.

S75-22770 (25 Feb. 1975) --- Two American ASTP prime crewmen have a meal with the Soviet ASTP first (prime) crewmen during Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The four are inside the Soyuz orbital module mock-up in Building 35. They are, left to right, astronaut Donald K. Slayton, docking module pilot of the American crew; cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet crew; astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander of the American crew; and cosmonaut Valeriy N. Kubasov, engineer on the Soviet crew. The training session simulated activities on the second day in Earth orbit. During the actual mission the other American crewmen, astronaut Vance D. Brand, command module pilot, would be in the Command Module.

S75-22856 (25 Feb. 1975) --- An interior view of the Soyuz orbital module mock-up in Building 35 during Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The ASTP crewmen are astronaut Vance D. Brand (on left), command module pilot of the American ASTP prime crew; and cosmonaut Valeriy N. Kubasov, engineer on the Soviet ASTP first (prime) crew. The training session simulated activities on the second day in Earth orbit. Photo credit: NASA

Expedition 50 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet is seen inside the Soyuz simulator during final qualification exams, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Pesquet, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson are scheduled to launch in November 2016. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos prepares to join ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, background, and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson inside the Soyuz simulator for final qualification exams, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet is seen inside the Soyuz simulator during final qualification exams, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Pesquet, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson are scheduled to launch in November 2016. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crewmember Christina Koch of NASA boards a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualifications exams. Koch, Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Beth Weissinger

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 46-47 crewmember Yuri Malenchenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) reviews procedures inside a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Nov. 20 at the start of final qualification exams. Malenchenko and crewmates Tim Peake of the European Space Agency and Tim Kopra of NASA will launch Dec. 15 on their Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft Dec. 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Seth Marcantel

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 46-47 crewmember Tim Kopra of NASA reviews procedures inside a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Nov. 20 at the start of final qualification exams. Kopra and crewmates Yuri Malenchenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Tim Peake of the European Space Agency will launch Dec. 15 on their Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft Dec. 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Seth Marcantel

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 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

jsc2017e135209 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Scott Tingle of NASA flashes a thumbs up as he boards a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Nov. 29 as part of the crew’s final qualification exam activities. Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) is seen in the foreground. They will launch along with Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 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.

jsc2017e135211 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) disconnects a cooling system hose as he boards a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Nov. 29 as part of the crew’s final qualification exam activities. He will launch along with Scott Tingle of NASA and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 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.

jsc2017e135210 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 54-55 prime crewmember Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) waves to reporters as he boards a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Nov. 29 as part of the crew’s final qualification exam activities. Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) is seen in the foreground. They will launch along with Scott Tingle of NASA 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.

jsc2019e004068 (Feb. 20, 2019) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crew member Christina Koch of NASA listens to reporters’ questions in front of a Soyuz spacecraft simulator Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualifications exams. Koch, Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Beth Weissinger

jsc2019e004056 (Feb. 20, 2019) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crew members Christina Koch of NASA (left), Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos (center) and Nick Hague of NASA (right) pose for pictures in front of their Soyuz spacecraft simulator Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualifications exams. They will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Beth Weissinger

jsc2019e004067 (Feb. 20, 2019) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crewmembers Christina Koch of NASA (left), Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos (center) and Nick Hague of NASA (right) listen to reporters’ questions in front of their Soyuz spacecraft simulator Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualifications exams. They will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Beth Weissinger

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

S75-21892 (20 Feb. 1975) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left) and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov participate in Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training in Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Stafford and Leonov are the commanders of their respective prime crews. They are in the Soviet Soyuz Orbital Module mock-up. This picture was taken during a ?walk-through? of the second day?s activities in Earth orbit.

S75-24899 (April 1975) --- An exhibit illustrating the space suits designed for the Soviet cosmonaut crewmen of the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit. These were on display in the training building at the Cosmonaut Training Center (Star City) near Moscow.

S75-24926 (April 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet ASTP prime crew, practices with a training mock-up of the ASTP commemorative medal during Apollo-Soyuz Test Project activity at the Cosmonaut Training Center (Star City) near Moscow. Leonov is in the Soyuz orbital module trainer. Two medals divided into two halves each will be flown on the mission. The American ASTP crew will carry two halves aboard Apollo; and the Soviet ASTP crew will carry the other two halves aboard Soyuz. The four halves will be joined together to make two complete medals after the two spacecraft rendezvous and dock in Earth orbit. Grooved slots in the halves will allow the medals to be fitted together. One medal then will be returned to Earth by the astronauts; and the second medal will be brought back by the cosmonauts.

S74-28811 (23 Sept. 1974) --- The five prime crewmen of the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission are photographed in the Flight Crew Training Facility, Building 35, at the Johnson Space Center during ASTP crew training activity. They are, left to right, astronaut Donald K. Slayton, docking module pilot of the American crew; cosmonaut Valeriy N. Kubasov, engineer on the Soviet crew; cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet crew; astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander of the American crew; and astronaut Vance D. Brand, command module pilot of the American crew.

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

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 46-47 backup crewmembers Anatoly Ivanishin of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, left) and Kate Rubins of NASA prepare to enter a Soyuz simulator Nov. 19 at the start of qualification exams. Along with Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, they are the backups to the prime crewmembers, Yuri Malenchenko of Roscosmos, Tim Kopra of NASA and Tim Peake of the European Space Agency, who will launch Dec. 15 in the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Seth Marcantel

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 46-47 backup crewmembers Anatoly Ivanishin of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, left), Kate Rubins of NASA (center) and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) listen to reporters’ questions in front of a Soyuz simulator Nov. 19 at the start of qualification exams. They are the backups to the prime crewmembers, Yuri Malenchenko of Roscosmos, Tim Kopra of NASA and Tim Peake of the European Space Agency, who will launch Dec. 15 in the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Seth Marcantel

The interior of the Soyuz simulator is seen as Expedition 49 NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos take their Soyuz qualification exams, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 49 NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos are seen in a photograph outside the Soyuz simulator during their Soyuz qualification exams, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq201707070019 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, Randy Bresnik of NASA, and Paolo Nespoli of ESA are in the Soyuz simulator for their final Soyuz qualification exam, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz simulator control room is seen as Expedition 49 NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos participate in their Soyuz qualification exams, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 38/39 backup crewmembers Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Max Suraev (center) and NASA Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator Oct. 18, 2013 as they participated in qualification exam simulations. They are backing up the prime crewmembers, NASA Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio, Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin and Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who 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

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 38/39 backup crewmembers Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Max Suraev (center) and NASA Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator Oct. 18, 2013 as they participated in qualification exam simulations. They are backing up the prime crewmembers, NASA Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio, Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin and Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who 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

S74-28972 (20 Sept. 1974) --- Astronaut Vance D. Brand (foreground) and cosmonaut Aleksandr S. Ivanchenko are seated in the Docking Module trainer in Building 35 during Apollo-Soyuz Test Project simulation training at the Johnson Space Center. Brand is the command module pilot of the American ASTP prime crew. Ivanchenko is the engineer on the Soviet ASTP fourth crew (backup). During the exercise the American ASTP crew and the Soviet ASTP crew simulated docking the Apollo and Soyuz in Earth orbit and transferring to each other?s spacecraft. The Docking Module is designed to link the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft. The ASTP crewmen are training in both the U.S. and USSR for the joint mission scheduled for the summer of 1975. This view is looking from inside the Command Module into the Docking Module. The hatchway loading into the Soyuz spacecraft orbital module mock-up is in the background.

Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka trains on a Soyuz simulator at the Cosmonaut Hotel, Thursday, April 15, 2004, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2023e052881 (Sept. 13, 2023) --- NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara prepares to enter a Soyuz spacecraft simulator in her Sokol launch and entry suit for preflight training before beginning her mission to the International Space Station.

At the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 48-49 crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA (left), Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) conduct rendezvous rehearsals on a laptop computer simulator June 30 as instructors look on. Rubins, Ivanishin and Onishi will launch July 7, Baikonur time, on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft for a planned four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Alexander Vysotsky

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 35-36 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy enters a Soyuz spacecraft mockup March 5 for the start of qualification simulation runs. Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov 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 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy (right), Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov (center) and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin (left) clasp hands for photographers prior to the start of qualification simulation runs in a Soyuz spacecraft mockup March 5. The three crewmembers 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) wave to 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 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

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

jsc2018e081178 (Sept. 14, 2018) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 57 crew member Nick Hague of NASA waves from inside a Soyuz simulator Sept. 14 during Soyuz qualification exam activities. Hague and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch Oct. 11 on the Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Elizabeth Weissinger.

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

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 35-36 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy prepares to enter a Soyuz spacecraft mockup March 5 for the start of qualification simulation runs. Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov 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

In the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 36/37 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin (center) practices a Soyuz docking on a laptop simulator May 22 as he, NASA Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg (left) and Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (right) prepare for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft to begin a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Victor Zelentsov

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 35-36 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy flashes a thumbs up for photographers prior to the start of qualification simulation runs in a Soyuz spacecraft mockup March 5. Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov 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 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy (right) answers questions from reporters prior to the start of qualification simulation runs in a Soyuz spacecraft mockup March 5. Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov (center) and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin (left) 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 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) report to Russian space officials March 4 for 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

S75-23638 (20 March 1975) --- An overall view of the Mission Operations Control Room in the Mission Control Center during joint ASTP simulation activity at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The simulations are part of the preparations for the U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit scheduled for July 1975. M.P. Frank (seated, right) is the senior American flight director for the mission. Sigurd A. Sjoberg (in center, checked jacket), JSC Deputy Director, watches some of the console activity. George W.S. Abbey, Technical Assistant to the JSC Director, is standing next to Sjoberg. The television monitor in the background shows Soviet Soyuz crew activity from the Soviet Union.

(19 June 2012) --- Expedition 32/33 backup crew members Tom Marshburn of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko (center) and Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency walked to a Soyuz simulator as they prepared for their final Soyuz qualification test June 19, 2012 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Expedition 32 Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and Flight Engineers Suni Williams and Aki Hoshide practiced similar scenarios nearby in advance of their final approval for launch to the International Space Station, scheduled for July 15, 2012. Photo credit: NASA

S75-23881 (20 March 1975) --- A group of flight controllers from the Soviet Union take part in ASTP joint simulation activity at NASA's Johnson Space Center. They are in one of the support rooms in the Mission Control Center. The simulations are part of the preparations for the U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit scheduled for July 1975.

S75-23883 (20 March 1975) --- A group of flight controllers from the Soviet Union take part in ASTP joint simulation activity at NASA's Johnson Space Center. They are in one of the support rooms in the Mission Control Center. The simulations are part of the preparations for the U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit scheduled for July 1975.

nhq201707070008 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, left, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and Randy Bresnik of NASA answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their final Soyuz qualification exam, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq201707070013 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, left, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and Randy Bresnik of NASA pose for a photograph outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their final Soyuz qualification exam, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq201707070017 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineer Randy Bresnik of NASA is seen inside the Soyuz simulator during his final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and Paolo Nespoli of ESA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq201707070005 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineers Randy Bresnik of NASA, left, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, center, and Paolo Nespoli of ESA prepare to answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 38/39 Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin (center) and NASA Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio (right) report for the start of their flight qualification exam simulations Oct. 15, 2013. The trio 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

Expedition 49 NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, left, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, center, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos prepare to enter the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq201707070010 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, left, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and Randy Bresnik of NASA answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their final Soyuz qualification exam, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

S75-22187 (25 Feb. 1975) --- Two ASTP crewmen look over food cans and packages in the Soyuz orbital module trainer in Building 35 during Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training at NASA's Johnson Space Center. They are astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left), commander of the American ASTP prime crew; and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet ASTP first (prime) crew. The training session simulated activity on the second day in Earth orbit.

jsc2018e044093 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 56 crewmembers Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA (left), Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos (center) and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator May 11 during the final day of their vehicle qualification exams. They will launch June 6 on the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Elizabeth Weissinger.

nhq201707070007 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineer Paolo Nespoli of ESA listens to questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead his final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and Randy Bresnik of NASA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

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

At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 33/34 Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy (center) practices docking techniques on a laptop computer simulator as Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center instructors look on October 17, 2012. Joining Novitskiy are Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin (right) as they prepare for launch October 23 to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft. The trio will spend five months on the orbital laboratory. NASA/Victor Zelentsov

At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the Expedition 32/33 backup crew members participate in a rendezvous and docking practice session using laptop computer simulators July 9, 2012 as they train for support of the prime crew’s launch July 15 to the International Space Station in the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft. From left to right with their instructors are backup Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn of NASA, backup Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko and backup Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency. NASA/Victor Zelentsov

nhq201707070011 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, left, and Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineer Randy Bresnik of NASA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq201707070015 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos waits to enter the Soyuz simulator ahead his final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, and Randy Bresnik of NASA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 49 NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, left, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, center, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos pose for a group photograph outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

jsc2018e044094 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 56 crewmembers Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA (left), Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos (center) and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator May 11 during the final day of their vehicle qualification exams. They will launch June 6 on the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Elizabeth Weissinger.

Expedition 49 NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough's photograph is seen on a television monitor in the hallway of the Soyuz Simulation Facility as he and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos take their final Soyuz qualification exams, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

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)

nhq201707070009 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineer Randy Bresnik of NASA answers questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead his final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and Paolo Nespoli of ESA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

S75-22194 (25 Feb. 1975) --- An interior view of the Soyuz orbital module mock-up in Building 35 during Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The two ASTP crewmen are looking over a checklist. They are astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left), commander of the American ASTP prime crew; and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet ASTP first (prime) crew. The training session simulated activity on the second day in Earth orbit.

iss061e026185 (Oct. 31, 2019) --- NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Commander Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov brush up on their emergency response skills in the unlikely event they would need to evacuate the station in their Soyuz crew ship. The trio practiced quickly entering their Soyuz crew ship and simulated emergency undocking and descent procedures.

Expedition 31 Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka signs for his Soyuz vehicle simulation test card before senior officials at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Tuesday, April 24, 2012 in Star City, Russia, while his fellow crew members NASA flight engineer Joe Acaba, left, and flight engineer Sergei Revin look on. Padalka, Acaba and Revin are set to launch to the International Space Station May 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 31 NASA flight engineer Joe Acaba signs for his Soyuz vehicle simulation test card before senior officials at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Tuesday, April 24, 2012 in Star City, Russia, while his fellow crew members Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka, left, and flight engineer Sergei Revin look on. Acaba, Padalka and Revin are set to launch to the International Space Station May 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

nhq201707070006 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineer Randy Bresnik of NASA listens to questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead his final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos, and Paolo Nespoli of ESA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the Expedition 32/33 prime crew members participate in a rendezvous and docking practice session using laptop computer simulators July 9, 2012 as they prepare for their launch July 15 to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft. From left to right with their instructors are Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA Flight Engineer Sunita Williams. NASA/Victor Zelentsov

At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the Expedition 34/35 crew practices docking simulations on a laptop computer Dec. 13, 2012 as they prepare for launch Dec. 19. NASA Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn (left), Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko (center) and Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency (right) are preparing for launch Dec. 19 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Victor Zelentsov

Expedition 49 Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, left, and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams with NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

nhq201707070012 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos answers questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead his final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA and Randy Bresnik of NASA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

JSC2003-E-28142 (March 2003) --- Cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko (left), Expedition Seven commander; and astronaut Edward T. Lu, NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, take time out from practicing launch procedures in a Soyuz capsule simulator as part of their training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Malenchenko and Lu are scheduled to be launched in the spring of this year from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in a Soyuz TMA-2 capsule to begin a six-month stay on the International Space Station.

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)

nhq201707070014 (July 7, 2017) --- Expedition 52 flight engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos waits to enter the Soyuz simulator ahead his final Soyuz qualification exam with fellow Expedition 52 flight engineers Paolo Nespoli of ESA, background, and Randy Bresnik of NASA, Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 49 NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, left, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, center, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos answer questions from the press outside the Soyuz simulator ahead of their Soyuz qualification exams, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)