Prelaunch Astronaut Preparations

Cosmonauts and astronauts being suited and prepped for launch in Sokol suits, captured in a training environment with equipment reference.

Expedition 65 Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates, prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Friday, April 9, 2021 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will sent Novitskiy, Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei on a mission to the International Space Station.

Expedition 41 Flight Engineer Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has her Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for her launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the early hours of Sept. 26 (Kazakhstan time) and will carry Serova and fellow crewmates, Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA, into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to live and work on the station.

Expedition 65 Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates, prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Friday, April 9, 2021 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will sent Novitskiy, Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei on a mission to the International Space Station.

Expedition 60 flight engineer Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Andrew Morgan of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Saturday, July 20, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Parmitano, Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos, and Andrew Morgan of NASA launched aboard the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft at 12:28 p.m. Eastern time (9:28 p.m. Baikonur time) on July 20 to begin their journey to the orbiting laboratory.

Expedition 43 NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly is seen as he and his fellow crew members, Russian Cosmonauts Gennady Padalka, and Mikhail Kornienko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) have their Russian sokol suits pressure checked ahead of their launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft to the International Space Station Friday, March 27, 2015 in Baikonor, Kazakhstan. Kelly, Padalka, and Kornienko launched to the ISS from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 28, Kazakh time (March 27 Eastern time.) As the one-year crew, Kelly and Kornienko will return to Earth on Soyuz TMA-18M in March 2016.

Expedition 70 Preflight. Expedition 70 Roscosmos cosmonaut Nikolai Chub dons his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The launch will send Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub on a mission to the International Space Station.

Expedition 64 Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos is seen as he prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked as he and fellow crewmates Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos and Kate Rubins of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio launched at 1:45 a.m. EDT to begin a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 26 NASA Flight Engineer Catherine Coleman has her Russian Sokol suit pressure checked prior to her launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 in Kazakhstan. Coleman and fellow Expedition 26 crew members Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratryev and ESA Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli launched in their Soyuz TMA-20 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan the following morning at 1:09 a.m. local time. (

jsc2020e016850 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 63 crewmember Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos suits up March 25 for pre-launch training activities. Ivanishin, Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos and Chris Cassidy of NASA will launch April 9 on the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft from Baikonur for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center..

Expedition 42 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates, Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA), and Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the early hours of Nov. 24 and will carry Shkaplerov, Virts, and Cristoforetti into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 40 Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, ESA, is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Gerst, Suraev, and Wiseman on a five and a half month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 25 Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri has his Russian Sokol Suit pressure checked at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. (

Expedition 58 Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA has her Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for her launch aboard the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the same day and will carry McClain, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) into orbit to begin their six and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 56 flight engineer Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency) prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Gerst, flight engineer Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, and Soyuz Commander Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos launched aboard the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft at 7:12am EDT (5:12pm Baikonur time) on June 6 to begin their journey to the International Space Station.

Expedition 25 NASA Flight Engineer Scott Kelly of the U.S. has his Russian Sokol suit prepared for launch by a technician at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. Kelly and fellow Expedition 25 crew members Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri and Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka launched in their Soyuz TMA-01M at 5:10 a.m. Friday morning. (

Expedition 38 Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos is seen laying in a seat liner as he and fellow crew mates, Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and, Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA, have their Russian Sokol suits pressure checked a few hours ahead of their launch, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Tyurin, Wakata, and, Mastracchio will launch in their Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft to the International Space Station to begin a six-month mission.

Expedition 56 flight engineer Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA is helped into her Russian Sokol suit as she and fellow crewmates, Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos and Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency) prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Auñón-Chancellor, Prokopyev, and Gerst on a six month mission aboard the International Space Station.

jsc2020e017096 - Expedition 63 Preflight - Expedition 63 crewmember Chris Cassidy of NASA, left, has his Sokol suit pressure checked ahead of his launch on a Soyuz rocket with Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, seated center, and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos, seated right, Thursday, April 9, 2020 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. A few hours later, they lifted off for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Chris Ferguson undergoes a fit check of his Sokol space suit at the Zvezda facility on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in Moscow. The crew of the final shuttle mission traveled to Moscow for a suit fit check of their Russian Soyuz suits that will be required in the event of an emergency. ( NASA Photo / Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool )

Expedition 36 European Space Agency Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked ahead of his launch onboard a Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft to the International Space Station, Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Parmitano, Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg on a five and a half-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 10 Commander and NASA Science Officer Leroy Chiao donned his launch and entry suit and climbed aboard the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft Friday, October 5, 2004, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a dress rehearsal of launch day activities leading to their liftoff October 14 to the International Space Station. Chiao and Sharipov, the first crew of all-Asian extraction, will spend six months on the Station. Shargin will return to Earth October 24 with the Stations' current residents, Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Flight Engineer and Science Officer Mike Fincke.

JSC2008-E-035884 (22 April 2008) --- Astronaut Michael T. Good, STS-125 mission specialist, participates in an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit fit check in the Space Station Airlock Test Article (SSATA) in the Crew Systems Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Expedition 54 flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle, Kanai, and Shkaplerov on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 41 Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA, right, waits to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked while Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has his suit checked on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the early hours of Sept. 26 (Kazakhstan time) and will carry Samokutyaev, Wilmore, and Flight Engineer Elena Serova of Roscosmos into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 65 prime crew members NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, left, and Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, center, and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos, are seen after donning their Sokol suits during a fit check to prepare for launch, Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They are scheduled to launch on a Soyuz rocket April 9.

jsc2018e007772 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 55 crewmember Drew Feustel of NASA (left) signs in Feb. 21 for the final day of crew qualification exams. Looking on are crewmates Ricky Arnold of NASA (center) and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos (right). They will launch March 21 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft for a five-month mission on the International Space Station...Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center/Andrey Shelepin and Irina Spektor .

Expedition 36 NASA Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg, left, and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano share a word after donning their Russian Sokol suits in preparation for their launch aboard the Soyuz rocket, Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Nyberg, Parmitano and Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin on a five and a half-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 65 prime crew member Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos has his Sokol suit pressure checked during a fit check to prepare for launch with crew mates Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They are scheduled to launch on a Soyuz rocket April 9.

Expedition 58 Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for his launch aboard the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the same day and will carry Saint-Jacques, Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA, and Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos into orbit to begin their six and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 34/35 Soyuz NASA Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko and Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Marshburn, Romanenko and Hadfield on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 55 flight engineer Drew Feustel of NASA is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates, Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Ricky Arnold of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Wednesday, March 21, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Feustel, Artemyev, and Arnold launched aboard the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft at 1:44 p.m. Eastern time (11:44 p.m. Baikonur time) on March 21 to begin their journey to the International Space Station.

jsc2018e044090 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 56 crewmember Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos signs in for the final day of Soyuz qualification exams May 11. Looking on is his crewmate, NASAs Serena Aunon-Chancellor. Prokopyev, Aunon-Chancellor and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency will launch June 6 on the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Elizabeth Weissinger.

Expedition 65 prime crew member NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, dons his Sokol Suit during a fit check to prepare for launch with fellow Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos, Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They are scheduled to launch on a Soyuz rocket April 9.

Expedition 37/38 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked ahead of his launch onboard a Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft to the International Space Station with fellow crewmates Russian Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy and NASA Engineer Michael Hopkins, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send the Expedition 37/38 crewmates on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 65 prime crew member Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos has his Sokol suit pressure checked during a fit check to prepare for launch with crew mates Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They are scheduled to launch on a Soyuz rocket April 9.

Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, right, adjusts the mirror on her Russian sokol suit, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko, center, and Malaysian spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are seen next to her. The three launched at sunset Oct. 10 in their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft bound for a docking to the International Space Station on Oct. 12. Whitson and Malenchenko will spend six months on the station, while Shukor will return to Earth Oct. 21 with two of the Expedition 15 crewmembers currently on the complex.

Expedition 40 Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for his launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz spacecraft with Wiseman, Expedition 40 Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, ESA, is scheduled to launch at 1:57 a.m. Kazakhstan time on Thursday, May 29.

Expedition 41 Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for his launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the early hours of Sept. 26 (Kazakhstan time) and will carry Wilmore and fellow crewmates, Flight Engineer Elena Serova and Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 64 crew member NASA astronaut Kate Rubins signs in for Soyuz qualification exams as crew mates Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, center, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos look on, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia.

Expedition 51 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmate, Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for 1:13 p.m. April 20 Baikonur time, and will carry Yurchikhin and Fischer into orbit to begin their four and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 54 flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Tingle and fellow crewmates Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Kanai and fellow crewmates flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos on a five month mission aboard the International Space Station.

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crewmember Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos signs in for the second day of final pre-launch qualification exams Feb. 20 as his crewmate, Nick Hague of NASA looks on. Ovchinin, Hague and Christina Koch of NASA will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station.NASA/Beth Weissinger

Expedition 41 Flight Engineer Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) is helped into her Russian Sokol suit as she and fellow crewmates, Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the early hours of Sept. 26 and will carry Serova, Wilmore, and Samokutyaev into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Serova will become the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to live and work on the station.

Expedition 43 NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly waits for his space suit gloves to be put on as he and his fellow crew members, Russian Cosmonauts Gennady Padalka, and Mikhail Kornienko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) have their Russian sokol suits pressure checked ahead of their launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft to the International Space Station Friday, March 27, 2015 in Baikonor, Kazakhstan. Kelly, Padalka, and Kornienko launched to the ISS from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 28, Kazakh time (March 27 Eastern time.) As the one-year crew, Kelly and Kornienko will return to Earth on Soyuz TMA-18M in March 2016.

Expedition 65 backup crew member NASA astronaut Anne McClain, is seen with crew mates Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos during Soyuz qualification exams Monday, March 22, 2021, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, in advance of the Expedition 65 launch April 9 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station.

Support and medical personnel assist Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Don Pettit of NASA out of the Soyuz TMA-03M capsule shortly after he and Expedition 31 Commander Oleg Kononenko of Russia, and Flight Engineers Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Sunday, July 1, 2012. Pettit, Kononenko and Kuipers returned from more than six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 30 and 31 crews.

Expedition 55 flight engineer Drew Feustel of NASA is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates, Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and Ricky Arnold of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station Wednesday, March 21, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Feustel, Artemyev, and Arnold launched aboard the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft at 1:44 p.m. Eastern time (11:44 p.m. Baikonur time) on March 21 to begin their journey to the International Space Station.

Expedition 35 NASA Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov is has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked ahead of his launch onboard a Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft to the International Space Station, Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Vinogradov, NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy and Russian Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin on a five and a half-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 38 Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, left, and, Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA, don their Russian sokol suits, along with Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, a few hours ahead of their launch on a soyuz rocket, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Tyurin, Wakata, and, Mastracchio will launch in their Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft to the International Space Station to begin a six-month mission.

Expedition 58 Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA speaks with backup crew member Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) while she waits to have her Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for her launch aboard the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the same day and will carry McClain, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) into orbit to begin their six and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

European Astronaut Tim Peake of ESA during ISS EVA MAINT 3 NBL Training with Astronaut Tim Kopra and instructor Sandy Moore. Photo Date: September 10, 2014. Location: NBL - Pool Topside.

PHOTO DATE: 05-13-09LOCATION: NBL POOLSIDESUBJECT:Soichi Noguchi preparations for Maintenance EVA task at the NBL

(20 June 2012) --- Expedition 32/33 NASA Flight Engineer Sunita Williams of NASA (right), flanked by Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko (center), and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide (left), signs an examination card for their final Soyuz vehicle qualification test June 20, 2012 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Malenchenko, Williams and Hoshide are scheduled to launch July 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft to the International Space Station.

Inside the suit-up room in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA astronaut Robert Behnken dons his spacesuit ahead of the agencys SpaceX Demo-2 launch on May 30, 2020. Behnken and crewmate Douglas Hurley are the first astronauts to launch to the International Space Station from U.S. soil since the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 3:22 p.m. EDT from historic Launch Complex 39A. Part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, this will be SpaceXs final flight test, paving the way for the agency to certify the crew transportation system for regular, crewed flights to the orbiting laboratory.

Expedition 51 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmate Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for 1:13 p.m. April 20 Baikonur time, and will carry Yurchikhin and Fischer into orbit to begin their four and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked prior to launching in the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft with Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The three crew members are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Oct. 14. Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24 with two of the Expedition 17 crew members currently on the International Space Station.

Expedition 32 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams dons her Russian Sokol suit in preparation for her launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-05M on Sunday, July 15, 2012 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch of the Soyuz spacecraft with Williams, Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and JAXA Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide is scheduled for 8:40 a.m. local time on Sunday, July 15.

Expedition 68 Preflight. Expedition 68 astronaut Frank Rubio of NASA dons his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates Sergey Prokopyev, and Dmitri Petelin of Roscosmos, prepare for their Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft launch, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Rubio, Prokopyev and Petelin launched onboard the Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a mission on the International Space Station.

JSC2010-E-181466 (27 Oct. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander, helps NASA astronaut Sandy Magnus, mission specialist, don a training version of her Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit in preparation for a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. STS-135 is planned to be the final mission of the space shuttle program.

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 36/37 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin signs in for the start of final qualification training April 30 as his crewmates, NASA Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg (left) and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (right), look on. The three crewmembers are training for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station.NASA/Stephanie Stoll

S69-34482 (18 May 1969) --- Astronaut John W. Young, Apollo 10 command module pilot, jokes with Donald K. Slayton (standing left), director of Flight Crew Operations, Manned Spacecraft Center, during Apollo 10 suiting up operations. On couch in background is astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot. Astronauts Young; Cernan; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander, rode a transfer van from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building over to Pad B, Launch Complex 39 where their spacecraft awaited them. Liftoff was at 12 49 p.m. (EDT), May 18, 1969.

Expedition 35 Russian Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked ahead of his launch onboard a Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft to the International Space Station, Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Misurkin, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy on a five and a half-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 35 Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy is seen talking to family members after donning his Russian Sokol suit in preparation for his launch aboard the Soyuz rocket, Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Russian Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin on a five and a half-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Joe Acaba dons his Russian Sokol suit in preparation for his launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-04M on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz spacecraft with Acaba, Expedition 31 Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka, and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin onboard, launched at 9:01 a.m. Kazakhstan time on Tuesday, May 15.

JSC2010-E-181447 (27 Oct. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Rex Walheim, STS-135 mission specialist, gets help donning a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit in preparation for a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. STS-135 is planned to be the final mission of the space shuttle program.

Expedition 68 Preflight. Expedition 68 astronaut Frank Rubio of NASA has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked, while Expedition 68 backup crewmember Loral O'Hara of NASA looks on, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Rubio, Dmitri Petelin and Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos launched onboard the Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 65 backup crew members NASA astronaut Anne McClain, left, Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos arrive for Soyuz qualification exams Monday, March 22, 2021, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, in advance of the Expedition 65 launch April 9 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station.

Expedition 35 NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov, and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Cassidy, Vinogradov and Misurkin on a five and a half month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 64 crew members Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, left, Kate Rubins of NASA ,center, and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos arrive for Soyuz qualification exams Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, in advance of their scheduled launch October 14 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station.

jsc2020e016217 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 63 backup crewmembers Steve Bowen of NASA (left) and Sergey Ryzhikov (center) and Andrei Babkin of Roscosmos (right) arrive for Soyuz qualification exams March 11. They are the backups to Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos, who are scheduled to launch April 9 in the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Expedition 34/35 Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield of CSA is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow cremates, Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko and Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Hadfield, Romanenko and Marshburn on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 7 Commander Yuri I. Malenchenko has a leak check performed on his Russian Sokol suit in the Soyuz Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Thursday, April 10, 2003.

STS-129 crew members Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik, Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Robert Satcher prepare for 20A EVA Review dive at the NBL. Photo Date: March 26, 2009. Location - NBL Pool Topside and Control Room.

Expedition 8 Commander and NASA Scienhce Officer Michael Foale, left and Expedition 8 Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri suit up for launch with the assistance of technicians, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, prior to departure for the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Foale, Kaleri and European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque were launched on a Soyuz TMA-3 vehicle to the International Space Station, arriving on Oct. 20.

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 backup crewmember Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency signs in for Soyuz qualification exams May 26. Pesquet, Peggy Whitson of NASA and Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos are serving as the backups to prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, who will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station.NASA/Stephanie Stoll

JSC2010-E-187200 (22 Nov. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Rex Walheim, STS-135 mission specialist, gets help donning a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit in preparation for a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. STS-135 is planned to be the final mission of the space shuttle program.

jsc2018e035765 (04-12-2018) --- 2017 Canadian Space Agency astronaut candidate Joshua Kutryk suits up in a spacesuit for underwater spacewalk training at NASA Johnson Space Centers Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.

Expedition 43 NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly, left, watches as Russian Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) dons his Russian sokol suit ahead of their launch onboard the Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft to the International Space Station with fellow crew mate, Russian Cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko Friday, March 27, 2015 in Baikonor, Kazakhstan. As the one-year crew, Kelly and Kornienko will return to Earth on Soyuz TMA-18M in March 2016.

jsc2018e095908 (Nov. 7, 2018) --- NASA astronaut candidate Kayla Barron participates in spacewalk training at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 37/38 backup Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov (center) signs in Sept. 3 to initiate a round of qualification exams as his backup crewmates, NASA Flight Engineer Steve Swanson (left) and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev (right) look on. The trio is serving as backups to the prime crew - Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov, Flight Engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy and Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA -- who will launch to the International Space Station Sept. 26 in their Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakshtan.NASA/Stephanie Stoll

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 59 crewmembers Christina Koch of NASA (left), Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos (center) and Nick Hague of NASA (right) report to Russian space officials Feb. 20 during the second day of final pre-launch qualifications exams. They will launch March 14, U.S. time, in the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station.NASA/Beth Weissinger

U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Fleet Surgical Team 3 and NASA affiliates inspect the Orion Crew Survival Systems training suit in the hangar bay aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) during Underway Recovery Test 11, Feb. 22, 2024. In preparation for NASAs Artemis II crewed mission, which will send four astronauts in Orion beyond the Moon, NASA and the Department of Defense will conduct a series of tests to demonstrate and evaluate the processes, procedures, and hardware used in recovery operations for crewed lunar missions. The U.S. Navy has many unique capabilities that make it an ideal partner to support NASA, including its amphibious ships with the ability to embark helicopters, launch and recover small boats, three-dimensional air search radar and advanced medical facilities. Navy

Technicians work on the Russian Sokol suit of European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori, of Italy, prior to launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Friday, April 15, 2005 for a two-day trip to the International Space Station.

Expedition 65 backup crew members Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, left, Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, center, and NASA astronaut Anne McClain, are seen during Soyuz qualification exams Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, in advance of the Expedition 65 launch April 9 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station.

DATE: 5-21-13LOCATION: NBL - Pool TopsideSUBJECT: Mike Hopkins during INCR-37 ISS EVA Maintenance 95027 run with astronaut Kathleen Rubins.

Expedition 55 flight engineer Ricky Arnold of NASA prepares to have his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked in preparation for launch aboard the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Arnold, Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Drew Feustel of NASA launched aboard the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft at 1:44 p.m. Eastern time (11:44 p.m. Baikonur time) on March 21 to begin their journey to the International Space Station.

Expedition 7 Commander Yuri I. Malenchenko dons his Russian Sokol suit for the leak check, seat liner check and Soyuz inspection at the Soyuz Integration Facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Thursday, April 10, 2003.

Expedition 10 Commander and NASA Science Officer Leroy Chiao donned his launch and entry suit and climbed aboard the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft Friday, October 5, 2004, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a dress rehearsal of launch day activities leading to their liftoff October 14 to the International Space Station. Chiao and Sharipov, the first crew of all-Asian extraction, will spend six months on the Station. Shargin will return to Earth October 24 with the Stations' current residents, Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Flight Engineer and Science Officer Mike Fincke.

Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA is helped into his Russian Sokol suit as he and fellow crewmates, Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA), and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), prepare for their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for the early hours of Nov. 24 and will carry Virts, Cristoforetti, and Shkaplerov into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station.

JSC2012-E-105448 (25 July 2012) --- NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, Expedition 33 flight engineer and Expedition 34 commander, dons a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit in preparation for a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn (left), Expedition 34/35 flight engineer, and a suit technician assisted Ford.

Expedition 34/35 Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield has his Russian Sokol suit pressure checked ahead of his launch onboard a Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft to the International Space Station with fellow cremates, Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn and Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket will send Hadfield, Romanenko and Marshburn on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

PHOTO DATE: 28 January 2011, LOCATION: NBL - Pool Topside, SUBJECT: STS-133 Crew members Steve Bowen and Benjamin Drew during EVA 2 training with Mike Barratt and Nicole Stott assisting.

PHOTO DATE: 28 January 2011, LOCATION: NBL - Pool Topside, SUBJECT: STS-133 Crew members Steve Bowen and Benjamin Drew during EVA 2 training with Mike Barratt and Nicole Stott assisting.

Expedition 65 backup crew member, Anne McClain of NASA signs in for Soyuz qualification exams Monday, March 22, 2021, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, in advance of the Expedition 65 launch April 9 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station.

Expedition 25 crew members prepare to have their Russian Sokol Suits pressure checked at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri, NASA Flight Engineer Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka launched in their Soyuz TMA-01M at 5:10 a.m. Friday morning. (

Expedition 63 Roscosmos cosmonaut Ivan Vagner is helped out of the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft just minutes after he, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin, and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Thursday, October 22, 2020, Kazakh time (Oct. 21 Eastern time). Cassidy, Ivanishin and Vagner returned after 196 days in space having served as Expedition 62-63 crew members onboard the International Space Station.

JSC2010-E-181442 (27 Oct. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Sandy Magnus, STS-135 mission specialist, gets help donning a training version of her Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit in preparation for a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. NASA astronaut Chris Ferguson, commander, is at center. STS-135 is planned to be the final mission of the space shuttle program.

Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos is helped out of the Soyuz Capsule just minutes after he and Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA, landed in their Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Wakata, Tyurin and Mastracchio returned to Earth after more than six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 38 and 39 crews.

Expedition 64 backup crew members NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, left, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, center, and Russian cosmonaut Petr Dubrov of Roscosmos arrive for Soyuz qualification exams Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia.

Expedition 43 NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly dons his Russian sokol suit during the Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft fit check with Russian Cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and, Mikhail Kornienko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Sunday, March 15, 2015 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio are preparing for launch to the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan March 28, Kazakh time. As the one-year crew, Kelly and Kornienko will return to Earth on Soyuz TMA-18M in March 2016.

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