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Soyuz rocket launch in 1990

The Soyuz TM-11 rocket carrying Toyohiro Akiyama, a reporter for Japanese television broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System, and two Soviet cosmonauts -- commander Victor Afanasyev and engineer Musa Manarov -- launches off from the Baikonur space center in the Soviet republic of Kazakhstan on Dec. 2, 1990.

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Japan's first man in space

Toyohiro Akiyama, a reporter for Japanese television broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System, is pictured in a space suit on Nov. 2, 1990. He became the first Japanese to travel into space as a crew member of the Soyuz TM-11 rocket launched a month later from the Baikonur space center in the Soviet republic of Kazakhstan.

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Expedition 73 Preflight

Handout photo dated on 07/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket is seen on the launch pad at Site 31, Monday, April 7, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 73 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft on April 8. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Expedition 73 Launch

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, onboard, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Expedition 73 Preflight

Handout photo dated on 07/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket is seen on the launch pad at Site 31, Monday, April 7, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 73 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft on April 8. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Expedition 73 Cosmonaut Hotel Departure

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, left, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, right, wave as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The launch will send Kim, Ryzhikov, Zubritskiy on a mission to the International Space Station. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine.

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Expedition 73 Cosmonaut Hotel Departure

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, left, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, right, wave as they depart the Cosmonaut Hotel to suit-up for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The launch will send Kim, Ryzhikov, Zubritskiy on a mission to the International Space Station. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine.

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Expedition 73 Launch

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, onboard, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Expedition 73 Launch

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, onboard, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Expedition 73 Preflight

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, bottom, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, middle, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Zubritskiy, top, wave farewell prior to boarding the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft for launch, Tuesday, April 8, 2025 (April 7 Eastern time) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send the trio on a mission to the International Space Station. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to th

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Expedition 73 Launch

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, onboard, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Expedition 73 Launch

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, onboard, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Expedition 73 Launch

Handout photo dated on 08/04/2025 shows A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, onboard, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. April 8, 2025: A Soyuz spacecraft has just lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, leased by Russia to Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station. Sergei Ryjikov, Alexei Zoubritskiy and Jonny Kim will use their stay in the ISS to carry out some fifty scientific experiments, before returning home in December. The spacecraft has been repainted in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time when Americans and Soviets were allies. Space is now one of the last areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is on the verge of collapse due to the conflict in Ukraine. Photo by Joel Kowsky/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Russia launches Progress MS-26 cargo spaceship into orbit

STORY: Russia launches Progress MS-26 cargo spaceship into orbit SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 15, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 16, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:32 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Progress MS-26 cargo spaceship (source: Roscosmos) STORYLINE: A Russian Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Progress MS-26 cargo spaceship blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and reached the designated orbit as planned, the Russian space corporation Roscosmos said on Thursday. Roscosmos said that the MS-26 lifted off at 06:25 Moscow time (0325 GMT), reached its designated orbit, separated from the third stage of the rocket, and deployed its antennas and solar panels in a normal mode. The docking of the Progress MS-26 to the Zvezda service module of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled for Saturday at 09:12 Moscow time (0612 GMT). The cargo ship will deliver 2,518 kg of supplies to the station. Among the cargo, there are consumables for a new scient

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Russia launches Progress MS-24 cargo spaceship into orbit

STORY: Russia launches Progress MS-24 cargo spaceship into orbit DATELINE: Aug. 23, 2023 LENGTH: 0:00:31 LOCATION: VLADIVOSTOK, Russia CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the launch of the Progress MS-24 cargo spaceship (Source: Roscosmos) STORYLINE: A Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Progress MS-24 cargo spacecraft blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, sending it into orbit. The rocket lifted off at 4:08 a.m. Moscow time (0108 GMT) and sent the spacecraft into orbit nine minutes later, Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos said. Progress MS-24 will perform a two-day autonomous flight to the International Space Station (ISS), where it is expected to dock with the Zvezda service module of the space outpost on Friday at 6:50 a.m. Moscow time (0350 GMT). The cargo spaceship will deliver about 2.5 tons of supplies to the ISS, including more than 1.5 tons of various equipment and materials, half a ton of fuel to refuel the station, 420 kilograms of drinking

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Russia launches cargo ship to int'l space station

STORY: Russia launches cargo ship to int'l space station DATELINE: Feb. 10, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:53 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: SCIENCE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the launch and animation (Source: Roscosmos) STORYLINE: Russia successfully launched the Progress MS-22 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos said. The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9:15 a.m. Moscow time (0615 GMT), Roscosmos said in a press release. The spacecraft separated from the third stage of the rocket, and its antennas and solar panels opened normally. The ship is scheduled to dock to the ISS on Saturday. The Progress MS-22 will deliver over 2.5 tons of cargo to the ISS, namely 720 kg of fuel, 420 liters of drinking water, 40 kg of nitrogen and 1,354 kg of various equipment and materials. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Moscow. (XHTV)

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Soyuz launch to ISS

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Three astronauts -- Scott Tingle of the United States (R), Norishige Kanai of Japan (C) and Anton Shkaplerov of Russia -- board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 17, 2017. The aircraft was successfully launched to the International Space Station later in the day.

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Soyuz launch to ISS

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai smiles before boarding a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 17, 2017. The spacecraft was successfully launched to the International Space Station later in the day with two other astronauts from Russia and the United States on board.

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Soyuz launch to ISS

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai clenches his fist before boarding a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 17, 2017. The spacecraft was successfully launched to the International Space Station later in the day with two other astronauts from Russia and the United States on board. (Pool photo)

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Japanese astronaut Kanai

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan, Dec. 18 Kyodo - Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai speaks to reporters before boarding a Soyuz spacecraft at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 16, 2017.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket carrying a Russian Soyuz spacecraft lifts off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 7, 2013. The spacecraft carrying a Russian, American and Japanese astronaut is bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket carrying a Russian Soyuz spacecraft lifts off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 7, 2013. The spacecraft carrying a Russian, American and Japanese astronaut is bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket carrying a Russian Soyuz spacecraft lifts off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 7, 2013. The spacecraft carrying a Russian, American and Japanese astronaut is bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket carrying a Russian Soyuz spacecraft lifts off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 7, 2013. The spacecraft carrying a Russian, American and Japanese astronaut is bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese Astronaut Koichi Wakata speaks with his family using a microphone through a glass screen at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 7, 2013. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Wakata and a Russian and American astronaut lifted off at the space center later that day bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Photo shows a rocket carrying a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 7, 2013. The spacecraft carrying a Russian, American and Japanese astronaut lifted off later that day bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata talks with his family using a microphone at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 7, 2013. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Wakata and a Russian and American astronaut lifted off at the space center later that day bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata waves as he leaves his lodging in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 7, 2013. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Wakata and a Russian and American astronaut lifted off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome later that day bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata smiles from a bus to people seeing him off in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 7, 2013. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Wakata and a Russian and American astronaut lifted off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome later that day bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata waves as he leaves his lodging in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 7, 2013. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Wakata and a Russian and American astronaut lifted off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome later that day bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Astronauts (from L) Koichi Wakata of Japan, Mikhail Tyurin of Russia and Richard Mastracchio of the United States leave their lodging in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, with a Sochi Winter Olympics torch to be taken into space. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the three astronauts lifted off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome later that day bound for the International Space Station.

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Soyuz spacecraft

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Soyuz rocket, painted with a design celebrating the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, is taken out of an assembly plant to be carried to the launch pad in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 4, 2013. The rocket contains a spacecraft to bring three astronauts, as well as a Sochi Olympic torch, to the International Space Station later in the month.

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Soyuz spacecraft

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Soyuz rocket, painted with a design celebrating the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, is taken out of an assembly plant to be carried to the launch pad in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 4, 2013. The rocket contains a spacecraft to bring three astronauts, as well as a Sochi Olympic torch, to the International Space Station later in the month.

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Soyuz spacecraft

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Soyuz rocket, painted with a design celebrating the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, is taken out of an assembly plant to be carried to the launch pad in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 4, 2013. The rocket contains a spacecraft to bring three astronauts, as well as a Sochi Olympic torch, to the International Space Station later in the month.

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Russian spacecraft carrying 3 astronauts lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams rises into the air after lifting off on a rocket at 8:40 a.m. on July 15, 2012, from a launch center in Kazakhstan bound for the International Space Station.

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Russian spacecraft carrying 3 astronauts lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams lifts off on a rocket at 8:40 a.m. on July 15, 2012, from a launch center in Kazakhstan bound for the International Space Station.

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Russian spacecraft carrying 3 astronauts lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams lifts off on a rocket at 8:40 a.m. on July 15, 2012, from a launch center in Kazakhstan bound for the International Space Station.

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Russian spacecraft carrying 3 astronauts lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - (From L) Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams head for a ceremony to mark their departure for the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 15, 2012. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the three astronauts lifted off on a rocket at 8:40 a.m. the same day from a launch center in Kazakhstan.

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Russian spacecraft carrying 3 astronauts lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Photo shows Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide (front) and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko heading to a rocket launch pad at a space center in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 15, 2012. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the two astronauts and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams lifted off on a rocket at 8:40 a.m. the same day bound for the International Space Station.

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Russian spacecraft carrying 3 astronauts lifts off

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide waves as he heads to a rocket launch pad at a space center in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 15, 2012. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams lifted off on a rocket at 8:40 a.m. the same day bound for the International Space Station.

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Space mission

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - (From L) Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams wave after a press conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 13, 2012. They will board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to head to the International Space Station.

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Space mission

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide waves after a press conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 13, 2012. He will board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to head to the International Space Station.

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Space mission

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - (from L) Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams join hands after a press conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 13, 2012. They will board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to head to the International Space Station.

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Space mission

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide waves after a press conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 13, 2012. He will board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to head to the International Space Station.

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Space mission

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - (from L) Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams attend a press conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 13, 2012. They will board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to head to the International Space Station.

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Space mission

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide speaks during a press conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 13, 2012. He will board Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to head to the International Space Station.

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Rocket to carry Soyuz spacecraft

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket which will carry a Soyuz spacecraft to be manned by three astronauts, including Japan's Akihiko Hoshide, is shown to reporters while being illuminated in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on the night of July 12, 2012, prior to the scheduled lift-off on July 15.

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Rocket to carry Soyuz spacecraft

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket which will carry a Soyuz spacecraft to be manned by three astronauts, including Japan's Akihiko Hoshide, is shown to reporters while being illuminated in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on the night of July 12, 2012, prior to the scheduled lift-off on July 15.

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Soyuz spacecraft set up on launching pad

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket to be manned by three astronauts, including Japan's Akihiko Hoshide, is positioned on the launching pad in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on July 12, 2012, prior to the scheduled lift-off on July 15. The rocket was carried by a cargo train especially made for the mission from an assembly plant some 10 kilometers away.

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Soyuz spacecraft set up on launching pad

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - A rocket to be manned by three astronauts, including Japan's Akihiko Hoshide, is positioned on the launching pad in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on July 12, 2012, prior to the scheduled lift-off on July 15. The rocket was carried by a cargo train especially made for the mission from an assembly plant some 10 kilometers away.