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In Pictures: Expedition 42 Crew Launches to Station

Jason Davis

Written by Jason Davis
November 24, 2014

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.

Soyuz TMA-15M goes vertical
Soyuz TMA-15M goes vertical Soyuz TMA-15M is raised into position at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.Image: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani
Soyuz FG engines
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.Image: Oleg Kononenko / Roscosmos
Anton Shkaplerov with daughter
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.Image: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani
Samantha with Sokol
Samantha with Sokol European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti poses with her Sokol launch suit during a pre-flight leak check.Image: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
Looking up
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.Image: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

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Expedition 42/43 Launches to the ISS Video: NASA

Soyuz TMA-15M liftoff
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.Image: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani
Soyuz TMA-15M timelapse
Soyuz TMA-15M timelapse Soyuz TMA-15M streaks off toward the International Space Station in this time lapse photograph from Baikonur, Kazakstan.Image: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani
Expedition 42 crew poster
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.Image: NASA

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