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At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 30 Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin laid flowers October 24, 2011 in a traditional ceremony during the tour of Red Square he and his crewmates conducted prior to their launch to the International Space Station November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Ivanishin, Expedition Commander Dan Burbank of NASA and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov will arrive in Baikonur October 31 for final pre-launch preparations. Credit: NASA jsc2011e203165

At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 30 Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin laid flowers October 24, 2011 in a traditional ceremony during the tour of Red Square he and his crewmates conducted prior to their More

At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA laid flowers October 24, 2011 in a traditional ceremony during the tour of Red Square he and his crewmates conducted prior to their launch to the International Space Station November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Burbank, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin will arrive in Baikonur October 31 for final pre-launch preparations. Credit: NASA jsc2011e203164

At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA laid flowers October 24, 2011 in a traditional ceremony during the tour of Red Square he and his crewmates conducted prior to their lau More

With famed St. Basil’s Cathedral in the background, the prime crew for the upcoming Expedition 30 launch to the International Space Station toured Red Square in Moscow October 24, 2011 as part of their ceremonial pre-launch activities. From left to right are Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin. Burbank, Shkaplerov and Ivanishin will launch on November 14 to the International Space Station in the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Credit: NASA jsc2011e203161

With famed St. Basil’s Cathedral in the background, the prime crew for the upcoming Expedition 30 launch to the International Space Station toured Red Square in Moscow October 24, 2011 as part of their ceremoni More

At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 30 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov laid flowers October 24, 2011 in a traditional ceremony during the tour of Red Square he and his crewmates conducted prior to their launch to the International Space Station November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Shkaplerov, Expedition Commander Dan Burbank of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin will arrive in Baikonur October 31 for final pre-launch preparations. Credit: NASA jsc2011e203163

At the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Expedition 30 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov laid flowers October 24, 2011 in a traditional ceremony during the tour of Red Square he and his crewmates conducted prior to their More

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, outside Moscow, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center), and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin listen to questions from reporters during their news conference October 24, 2011 as they prepare for their launch November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Credit: NASA jsc2011e203732

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, outside Moscow, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center), and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishi More

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 29/30 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov says goodbye to his daughter October 31, 2011, as he departed for his launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Shkaplerov, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin will launch November 14 from Baikonur on their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft for the International Space Station. Credit: NASA jsc2011e204590

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 29/30 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov says goodbye to his daughter October 31, 2011, as he departed for his launch site in Baikonur, Ka More

At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin share a moment during the checkout of their Russian Sokol launch and entry suits while conducting the first of two “fit checks” of their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft. Burbank, Ivanishin and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov will launch November 14 from Baikonur to the International Space Station. November 1, 2011 Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e204934

At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin share a moment during the checkout of their Russian More

At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a technician conducts a leak check of the Russian Sokol launch and entry suit of Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA during the first of two “fit checks” of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft he, Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov will launch in November 14 from Baikonur to the International Space Station. November 1, 2011 Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e204935

At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a technician conducts a leak check of the Russian Sokol launch and entry suit of Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA during the fir More

4603: At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA lies passively during a leak check of his Russian Sokol launch and entry suit November 1, 2011 during the first of two “fit checks” of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft he, Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov will launch in November 14 from Baikonur to the International Space Station. November 1, 2011 Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e204936

4603: At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA lies passively during a leak check of his Russian Sokol launch and entry suit November 1, More

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center) and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin review docking procedures on a laptop computer during training at their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters November 8, 2011. The trio will launch in the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from Baikonur on November 14 bound for the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e205781

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center) and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin review docking procedures on a laptop computer during More

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA gets in some exercise on a treadmill at his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters November 8, 2011. Burbank, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin will launch in the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft on November 14 from Baikonur bound for the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e205784

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA gets in some exercise on a treadmill at his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters November 8, 2011. Burbank, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Fli More

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin play a game of badminton at their crew quarters at the Cosmonaut Hotel on November 8, 2011. Burbank, Ivanishin and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov will launch from Baikonur on November 14 in their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e205829

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (left) and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin play a game of badminton at their crew quarters at the Cosmonaut Hotel on November 8, 2011. Burb More

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA enjoys a game of ping-pong at his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters November 8, 2011. Burbank, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin will launch in the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft on November 14 from Baikonur bound for the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e205783

In Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA enjoys a game of ping-pong at his Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters November 8, 2011. Burbank, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engine More

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 30 prime and backup crews pose for pictures around a poster of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space, as they toured the Korolev Museum November 9, 2011 following a final inspection of their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft. From left to right are the prime crew, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA, Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov, and the backup crew, Gennady Padalka, Joe Acaba of NASA and Sergei Revin. Burbank, Shkaplerov and Ivanishin are completing training for launch November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 from Baikonur to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e208395

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 30 prime and backup crews pose for pictures around a poster of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space, as they toured the Korolev Museum November More

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 30 prime and backup crews toured the Korolev Museum November 9, 2011 as they prepared for launch November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from Baikonur to the International Space Station. As a tour guide provided historical information on a Soyuz mockup, listening from left to right are Expedition 30 Commander and prime crewmember Dan Burbank of NASA, backup Flight Engineer Joe Acaba of NASA, prime Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin, backup crewmember Sergei Revin, prime Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and backup crewmember Gennady Padalka. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e208396

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 30 prime and backup crews toured the Korolev Museum November 9, 2011 as they prepared for launch November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from Baikonur More

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center) and Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (right) pose for pictures in front of their Soyuz booster rocket November 9, 2011 as they prepare for launch November 14 on the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from Baikonur to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e208394

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center) and Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (right) pose for pictu More

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center) and Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (right) pose for pictures in front of their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft November 9, 2011 as they completed a final inspection of the vehicle in its Integration Facility. The trio are preparing for launch November 14 from Baikonur to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e208392

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 30 Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov (center) and Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA (right) pose for pictu More

At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the upper stage of the Soyuz booster rocket containing the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft is mated with the rest of the rocket November 10, 2011 in advance of the launch November 14 of Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin from Baikonur to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2011e209249

At the Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the upper stage of the Soyuz booster rocket containing the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft is mated with the rest of the rocket November 10, 2011 in More

JSC2014-E-042045 (6 Feb. 2014) --- The backup crew members for International Space Station Expedition 40 take a break in training with the prime crew for a crew portrait. From the left are Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency. Photo credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center jsc2014e042045

JSC2014-E-042045 (6 Feb. 2014) --- The backup crew members for International Space Station Expedition 40 take a break in training with the prime crew for a crew portrait. From the left are Flight Engineer Terry More

0215: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) chat in front of a Soyuz simulator May 6 during their final qualification exams for flight. They are the backups to the prime crew --- Reid Wiseman of NASA, Max Suraev of Roscosmos and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency --- who are in the final stages of training for launch May 29, Kazakh time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft to spend 5 ½ months on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e041922

0215: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscos More

0213: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator May 6 as part of their final qualification exams for flight. They are the backups to the prime crew --- Reid Wiseman of NASA, Max Suraev of Roscosmos and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency --- who are in the final stages of training for launch May 29, Kazakh time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft to spend 5 ½ months on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e041921

0213: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscos More

0198: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator May 6 as part of their final qualification exams for flight. They are the backups to the prime crew --- Reid Wiseman of NASA, Max Suraev of Roscosmos and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency --- who are in the final stages of training for launch May 29, Kazakh time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft to spend 5 ½ months on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e041920

0198: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscos More

0176: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) pose for pictures in front of a Soyuz simulator May 6 as part of their final qualification exams for flight. They are the backups to the prime crew --- Reid Wiseman of NASA, Max Suraev of Roscosmos and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency --- who are in the final stages of training for launch May 29, Kazakh time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft to spend 5 ½ months on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e041919

0176: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left), Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscos More

0165: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmember Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (foreground) walks to a Soyuz simulator May 6 along with Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, second from the right) to begin two days of final qualification exams. Cristoforetti, Shkaplerov and Terry Virts of NASA are serving as backups to the prime crewmembers --- Reid Wiseman of NASA, Max Suraev of Roscosmos and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, who are preparing for launch on May 29, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e041930

0165: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 40/41 backup crewmember Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (foreground) walks to a Soyuz simulator May 6 along w More

15-16-38-44-2: Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left) Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) arrive at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan May 15 for final pre-launch training. The trio is backing up the prime crew --- Soyuz Commander Max Suraev of Roscosmos, NASA Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency --- who will launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft from Baikonur for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Victor Zelentsov jsc2014e045549

15-16-38-44-2: Expedition 40/41 backup crewmembers Terry Virts of NASA (left) Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, center) and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti More

#3340 - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos (left), Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA (center) and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) share a light moment at the start of their qualification exams October 30. The trio is preparing for launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 24, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft to begin a five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e089257

#3340 - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos (left), Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA (center) a More

#3333 - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos (left), Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA (center) and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (right) listen to instructions from Russian space officials at the start of their qualification exams October 30. The trio is preparing for launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 24, Kazakh time, in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft to begin a five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e089256

#3333 - (30 October 2014) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos (left), Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA (center) a More

3570: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and NASA Flight Engineer Terry Virts clasp hands for photographers during the second day of qualification exams October 31. The trio is preparing for launch in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e091109

3570: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian More

3546: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and NASA Flight Engineer Terry Virts pose for pictures during the second day of qualification exams October 31. The trio is preparing for launch in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e091107

3546: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian More

3568: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and NASA Flight Engineer Terry Virts clasp hands for photographers during the second day of qualification exams October 31. The trio is preparing for launch in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e091108

3568: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (left), Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian More

3608a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) flashes a thumbs up as he enters a Soyuz simulator October 31 for the second day of qualification exams. Overlooking Shkaplerov is a wall mural depicting the image of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space. Shkaplerov, NASA Flight Engineer Terry Virts and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti are preparing for launch in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e091112

3608a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) flashes a thumbs up as he enters a Soyuz More

3593: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) studies systems manuals as he prepares to enter a Soyuz simulator October 31 for the second day of qualification exams. Shkaplerov, NASA Flight Engineer Terry Virts and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti are preparing for launch in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e091111

3593: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) studies systems manuals as he prepares to More

3630a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, an instructor watches a television monitor showing the Expedition 42/43 crew running through their procedures in a Soyuz simulator during the second day of qualification exams October 31. NASA Flight Engineer Terry Virts, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti are preparing for launch in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e091113

3630a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, an instructor watches a television monitor showing the Expedition 42/43 crew running through their procedures in a Soyuz simulator during t More

3574a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA pauses to reflect as he prepares to enter a Soyuz simulator October 31 for the second day of qualification exams. Overlooking Virts is a wall mural depicting the image of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space. Virts, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti are preparing for launch in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e091110

3574a: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA pauses to reflect as he prepares to enter a Soyuz simulator October 31 for the second More

4537: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) waves to well-wishers Nov. 11 before boarding a bus that took him, Terry Virts of NASA and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency to a waiting plane for a flight to their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio will launch Nov. 24, Kazakh time from Baikonur in their Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft for a five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll jsc2014e092608

4537: At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 42/43 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) waves to well-wishers Nov. 11 be More

5143 OK: Aboard a Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center aircraft, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA, center), affixes a decal of the ESA logo of her mission to the cabin wall next to the Soyuz crew decal Nov. 11 in a traditional activity en route to her launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Looking on are her crewmates, NASA’s Terry Virts (left) and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, right). The trio are preparing for their launch on the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from Baikonur on Nov. 24, Kazakh time, for a five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Victor Ivanov jsc2014e092612

5143 OK: Aboard a Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center aircraft, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA, center), affixes a decal of the ESA logo of her mission More

6019: At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 42/43 crewmember Terry Virts of NASA tries his hand at darts Nov. 18 as he prepares for launch Nov. 24, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Virts and his crewmates, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency will spend 5 ½ months on the International Space Station. NASA/Sergei Fyodorov jsc2014e093278

6019: At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 42/43 crewmember Terry Virts of NASA tries his hand at darts Nov. 18 as he prepares for launch Nov. 24, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz More