Russian space officials say they lost contact to the Soyuz spacecraft and the International Space Station for three hours. A Russian news agency reported that the glitch in optic fibre network at the mission control centre outside Moscow caused the disruption Thursday. A duty officer told the Interfax agency that the problem had been "completely solved." Read more
A Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft carrying astronauts from the US, Russia and Italy blasted off from Kazakhstan heading towards the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman, Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev, and Italy's Paolo Nespoli of Italy are expected to dock at the Space Station on Friday. Read more
Newest Space Station Crew Members Launch From Kazakhstan
NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev, and European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:09 p.m. EST Wednesday (1:09 a.m. local time, Dec. 16). Read more
Expedition 26 Flight Engineers Dmitry Kondratyev, Catherine Coleman and Paolo Nespoli lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz TMA-20 at 2:09 p.m. EST, 15th December, 2010.
The next spaceflight by a European astronaut is about to begin: ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and his crewmates will be launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 15 December at 20:09 CET to the International Space Station. Paolo Nespolis MagISStra mission is Europes third long-duration flight on the International Space Station (ISS). During his six-month mission, Paolo will serve as a flight engineer with Dmitri Kondratyev and Catherine Coleman as members of Expeditions 26 and 27. Read more
Live coverage of Expedition 26/MagISStra launch from Baikonur ESA TV Live
On 15 December, Italian ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, American Catherine Coleman and Russian Dmitri Kondratyev will be launched in a Soyuz TMA spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a challenging 6-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS). Launch is scheduled at 19.09.25 GMT Read more
As their Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft is mated to its launch vehicle and rolled out to its launch pad, Expedition 26 members Cady Coleman, Paolo Nespoli and Dmitry Kondratyev participate in crew activities in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Their launch to the International Space Station is scheduled for 2:09 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday.
As a Soyuz spacecraft slowly rolls to its launchpad on the icy cold steppes of Kazakhstan, even the most seasoned space fan cannot help but be spellbound by the sight. With NASA finally retiring the shuttle program next year, the venerable Russian workhorse is now set to become the world's only lifeline to the International Space Station. That predicament is provoking mixed feelings of concern over excess reliance on Russia's space program and enduring admiration for the hardiness of the Soviet-designed Soyuz. Read more
The Soyuz rocket with the crew of Expedition 26 is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 19:09 GMT, 15th December, 2010.
The next space station crew, Flight Engineers Cady Coleman, Paolo Nespoli and Dmitry Kondratyev are in Kazakhstan, readying for their launch to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft scheduled to liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday. Also, the successful SpaceX launch, and Bolden and Wörner on "Master with Masters." Plus, more on NASA'S role in the Chilean miners' rescue; and NASA 360 on and IN the air.