The State Commission gives the approval for launch of the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft carrying Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke, Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott to the International Space Station, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The three crew members are scheduled to launch Oct. 12 for a docking with the International Space Station on Oct. 14. Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24 with two of the Expedition 17 crew members currently on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)