Timelapse video of Expedition 40 liftoff

(Photo Credit: NASA)

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst, Roscosmos commander Max Suraev and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman have spent nearly 3 weeks on board the International Space Station. However on May 28th, the Expedition 40/41 crew blasted off from the Baikonour cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six hour journey to the station.

This amazing timelapse video from the European Space Agency shows the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft during its final preparations. The spacecraft and its rocket are shown being rolled out from its preparation building, being raising into its vertical liftoff position on the launch pad, and its launch.

You can watch the video below.

SpaceX unveil manned Dragon spacecraft which will carry astronauts to the International Space Station

(Photo Credit: SpaceX)

SpaceX have taken a pivotal step in the private-sector race to provide NASA with safe and reliable transport to and from International Space Station.

Elon Musk, SpaceX founder and CEO, unveiled the new craft at an invite only event at the company’s headquarters in California on May 29th.

(The full Expedition 40 crew – Photo Credit: Oleg Artemyev/Roscosmos)

With the 3 newest arrivals safely on board the station, the now-complete Expedition 40 crew have a busy couple of months ahead of them. A wide range of science experiments, cargo arrivals and spacewalks (EVAs) are scheduled in the near future. Here is a brief overview of what the astronauts and cosmonauts will be accomplishing during their stay.

Image of the Day: 28/05/14

(Photo Credit: Russia Today)

The countdown is on for the launch of Expedition 40/41. Tonight, the three crew members will blast off on a 6 hour rocket ride to the International Space Station.

But this image of the day isn’t about showing an amazing photo from space, or pictures from the launch site.

Instead I chose this image for a different reason.

Image of the Day: 26/05/14

(Photo Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

This spectacular image was taken shortly after Expedition 40/41’s Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft was lifted to its vertical position in preparation for launch on May 28th (May 29th Kazakhstan time).