Jason Davis • November 24, 2014

In Pictures: Expedition 42 Crew Launches to Station

Three new crewmembers are safely aboard the International Space Station today following the launch of a Russian spacecraft from Kazakhstan. At 3:01 a.m. local time, Soyuz TMA-15M launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying NASA astronaut Terry Virts, cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti into orbit. The trio lapped the Earth four times in six hours, pulling into port at the space station's Rassvet module at 9:49 p.m. EST Sunday (2:49 UTC Monday). Hatches were opened around midnight EST.

Greeting the new crew was NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore, who is currently in command of the station, along with cosmonauts Elena Serova and Alexander Samokutyaev. The station is operating under Expedition 42, which started when the crew of Expedition 41 departed two weeks ago.

Check out the The Planetary Society’s International Space Station dashboard for live video feeds, crew rosters and more.

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Soyuz TMA-15M goes vertical

Soyuz TMA-15M is raised into position at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Oleg Kononenko / Roscosmos

Soyuz FG engines

The engines of a Soyuz FG rocket loom large over a flame trench at the Baikonur Cosmodrome prior to the launch of Soyuz TMA-15M to the International Space Station.

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Anton Shkaplerov with daughter

Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov matches palms with his daughter, Kira, through quarantine glass following a press conference at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur.

Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center

Samantha with Sokol

European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti poses with her Sokol launch suit during a pre-flight leak check.

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Looking up

NASA astronaut Terry Virts, left, takes a look up at the Soyuz rocket that will carry him to the International Space Station. Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov is in the center, with European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti at right.

NASA

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Soyuz TMA-15M liftoff

Soyuz TMA-15M, carrying NASA astronaut Terry Virts, cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, lifts off from Baikonur, Kazakstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014.

NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Soyuz TMA-15M timelapse

Soyuz TMA-15M streaks off toward the International Space Station in this time lapse photograph from Baikonur, Kazakstan.

NASA

Expedition 42 crew poster

The crew of Expedition 42 poses in a parody shoot of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." From left: Terry Virts, Anton Shkaplerov, Alexander Samokutyaev, Barry Wilmore, Elena Serova, Samantha Cristoforetti.

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