jsc2010e194138

The flags of the United States, Russia, Italy and Kazakhstan are raised outside the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan December 5, 2010 in the traditional ceremony for the Expedition 26 prime and backup crewmembers that is part of their prelaunch activities. NASA Flight Engineer Catherine Coleman, Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratyev and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli of Italy are scheduled to launch December 16 (Baikonur time) in their Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov

The flags of the United States, Russia, Italy and Kazakhstan are raised outside the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan December 5, 2010 in the traditional ceremony for the Expedition 26 prime and backup crewmembers that is part of their prelaunch activities. NASA Flight Engineer Catherine Coleman, Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratyev and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli of Italy are scheduled to launch December 16 (Baikonur time) in their Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov