JSC2011-E-030358 (1 April 2011) --- At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, technicians bolt the launch escape tower to the upper stage of the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft April 1, 2011. Preparations continue for the launch of the Expedition 27 crew to the International Space Station April 5 (Kazakhstan time). Astronaut Ron Garan of NASA, along with Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyaev (Soyuz commander) and Andrey Borisenko will be aboard the Soyuz, which is dubbed ?Gagarin?, for the launch that will occur just one week shy of the launch of Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961 to become the first human to fly in space. Photo credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov
Photographer Photographer: Victor Zelentsov
Date April 1, 2011