The launch of Soyuz TMA-08M. According to tradition, the crew sign their room doors and are blessed by a Russian Orthodox priest. The crew then put on their sokol suits, have them checked for leaks and head out to the launch pad. After launch, the crew made the first expedited docking after only six hours, instead of two days.

(Source: GCTC)

scanzen:

thekhooll:

Soyuz

Blueprint of a Russian Soyuz rocket. Click here to view big..!

omg this is beautiful

edit: this is BIG

colchrishadfield:

Look closely - a spaceship is closing in on us! Progress approaching to dock with the Space Station yesterday.

colchrishadfield:

At top, the Soyuz that we flew here and will fly home in May. Below, the Progress that undocked and burnt up. 

colchrishadfield:

Spaceships and Earth - foreground is the Soyuz we’ll pilot home in May. Unmanned Progress vehicle in the background.

Salizhan Sharipov before climbing aboard Soyuz TMA-5. (2004)

(Source)

lightthiscandle:

Wow.

(Source: railsmith)

not-fun:

i *really love* soviet space program promo art. if i had 100$ i would buy this poster so fast.

My Christmas tree inspired by this one. 

Soyuz TMA-07M launches tomorrow!

The launch is scheduled for December 19 at 7:12am ET (4:12am PT), with preparations broadcast at 6:15am ET (3:15am PT)

As usual, I’ll be liveblogging along tomorrow morning.

Soyuz TMA-07M was rolled out to the launch pad at Baikonur yesterday. It launches with Roman Romanenko, Chris Hadfield, and Thomas Marshburn tomorrow.

(Source: 1 & 2)

for-all-mankind:

A Google Maps set of all the landing locations!

Soyuz TMA-06M was rolled out to the launch pad today. It’s bad luck for the prime crew to attend the rollout of their Soyuz, so the backup crew get to watch. The prime crew gets their hair cut instead.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3)

crookedindifference:

Apollo–Soyuz Test Project: Ending the Space Race

The Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), in July 1975, was the first joint U.S.–Soviet space flight, and the last flight of an Apollo spacecraft. Its primary purpose was as a symbol of the policy of détente that the two superpowers were pursuing at the time, and marked the end of the Space Race between them that began in 1957.

Top: The Apollo spacecraft, as photographed by the Soyuz crew.

Bottom: The Soyuz spacecraft, as photographed by the Apollo crew.