Expedition 44 Soyuz Rocket Moves to Its Launch Pad as the Crew Prepares for Launch

The Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft and its booster were moved to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a railcar July 20 for final preparations before launch to the International Space Station on July 23, Kazakh time. The Soyuz TMA-17M will carry Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren and Flight Engineer Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to the orbital complex for a five-month mission. The footage also includes the crew’s final fit check activities and Baikonur museum visit July 17 and the mating of the booster’s stages July 19. Also included are interviews at the launch pad with Chris Cassidy, NASA Chief Astronaut; William Gerstenmaier, NASA Associate Administrator for Human Exploration Operations; and Michael Suffredini, International Space Station Program Manager July 20.

[@Redled_Original]

Good luck @ Oleg Kononenko, Kjell Lindgren & Kimiya Yui!

[@valentiya777]

Удачи, парни

[@vishnusakthivel2656]

Really feeling proud that I studied in the same university where oleg konenko studied.

[@mwake7]

Safe Journey and thank you for sharing your amazing work Be safe Maria :-)

[@laxpors]

Exciting times we live in!

[@laxpors]

Thats so freaking awesome!!

[@keithmoton8778]

I love nasa

[@Hive0100]

Ad Astra and good luck

[@janetbratter1]

Sure beats the fear based, war mongering videos that keep popping up these days.

[@MrSeksanridthiplaeng]

I am waiting for day lift off. When Thailand join this program. I want some.

[@Czecher86]

GL

[@mmstrike9102]

I need alien ^^

[@43SunSon]

I want to know how old are they?

[@63rdwho]

SunSon29 The Russian, Oleg Kononenko is the oldest at 51; the Japanese, Kimiya Yui is 45; and the American, Kjell Lindgren is the youngest at 42.

[@43SunSon]

63rdwho lol. You are fast. Thanks.

[@user-ow3lu5bk4b]

At which time are they lifting off?

[@SuperCvdm]

Musicman2612 23:02 European Summer Time.

[@SuperCvdm]

Musicman2612 I am sorry, i mean Middle European Summer Time

[@Redstonemaster200]

thirst

[@rocksteady31]

Nobody cares

[@CaptainOfGames]

Hunger

[@alexanderpushkin9160]

Как же это убого. Сколько идиотских вещей приходится делать астронавтам, отправляющимся на мкс из казахстана.

[@andykab1]

Alexander Pushkin Ты дома делаешь не менее идиотские вещи, к которым привык ))) А тут традиции.