sashay 42 has kicked off on the space post , and they ’re submit full advantage an an exculpation to pay testimonial to theHitchhiker ’s Guideanswer to life sentence , the universe , and everything .
Top image : launching of a Soyuz TMA-15 M out of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday , November 24 , 2014 . paradigm credit : NASA / Aubrey Gemignani
Rollout of the Soyuz rocket in preparation for launching on November 21 , 2014 . Image credit : NASA / Aubrey Gemignani
NASA astronautTerry Virts , ESA astronautSamantha “ Sam ” Cristoforetti , and Russian cosmonautAnton ShkaplerovjoinedAlexander Samokutyaev , Butch Wilmore and Elena Serovato bring the International Space Station up to a full component of six astronauts .
Mission poster for Expedition 42 featuring all six cosmonaut and theirrobonaut .
All three of the newly - arrived astronauts are on Twitter , as@AstroTerry,@AstroSamantha , and@AntonAstrey .
Soyuz , backlit by sunrise . Image credit entry : NASA
While I ’m still heartbroken over thedeparture of Reid Wiseman and Alex Gerst at the end of Expedition 41 , I ’m optimistic that this new trio is starting out well byembracing the Hitchhiker ’s Guide to the Galaxy as the mission theme . The theme bear on with Cristoforetti ’s first blog entry from sphere , a testimonial to Milliway ’s , the restaurant at the end of the universe of discourse .
https://gizmodo.com/astronauts-safe-return-mildly-marred-by-their-spacecraf-1656517345
Cristoforetti , Shkaplerov , and Virts going through last exercise in the twenty-four hour period leading up to their launch . epitome credit : NASA
The astronauts planted tree at Cosmonaut Ally , where every someone who has set in motion from Baikonur before them has planted a tree . paradigm credit entry : NASA / Terry Virts .
Prior to launching , the astronauts were kept in their common quarantine get down on November 11th . Once delivered to the quarantine house , the astronautsonly left three times , all to go to the cosmodrome .
Cristoforetti undergoing a primed - tick in a unexampled , spotlessly - clean spacesuit . Image citation : NASA
The first meter they leave was to meet their projectile shortly after they arrived , the next was a week later for a fitcheck , and the final time was 12 Day after they arrived , to launch on Sunday .
Cristoforetti and Virts on tilt - tables during their primed psychometric test ( leave ) . Empty place courting drying out after testing ( right ) . picture credit : NASA / Virts;NASA / Virts
Thelaunch was picture - perfect , even complete with aCountdown Soundtrack curated by Cristoforettitimed tostart at t-30 minutes . The flight took 5 hours , 48 minutes from launch to reach the Rassvet module of the space post .
opinion of the Soyuz rocket from the flame oceanic abyss . range credit : ESA / Sam Cristoforetti
Adding to the dad culture appeal of this particular mission , Virts and astronaut Mike Fincke have antecedently appeared on Star Trek . They were walk - ons for the series finish of Enterprise .
The Soyuz rocket wrapped in scaffold prior to launching . figure of speech citation : NASA / Terry Virts
The spaceman are wear out hand - knit air-sleeve as part of theAstroSocksproject . AstroSocks was inspired after knitters everywherecringed at Wiseman posting photos of his thudding box - store socks ; now astronauts are channelise to the station with wind sleeve tincture with excitement and lovemaking .
Cristoforetti bespeak cheerful yellowed windsock , which were knit fromhand - dye yarnwith stitch contributed by 100 of Canadian knitter .
Cristoforetti ’s yellow socks . Image credit : Emily Mooney
All the socks are acrylic - free , to ward off sudden wind sleeve - burning in the 100 % oxygen air within a spacesuit . The drogue made it into celestial orbit before the astronauts , manoeuver up on thelast Dragon resupply delegacy .
( Thanks to Xylo for the tip ; link up the AstroSocks radical onRavelryto work on a future pair of distance - socks ! )
Soyuzshines favourable in the pass off sunlight as it nears#ISShttp://t.co / V3cHlJRrAmpic.twitter.com / p3DQZC6afh
— NASA ( @NASA)November 24 , 2014
In hold open with thesmall giraffecarried into orbit by Wiseman during pleasure trip 40 and 41 , Virts bring Olaf with him to the space post .
Olaf , the newest plush indweller of the Space Station . Image mention : NASA/ Terry Virts
This is the first journeying into space for Cristoforetti , and the second trip to the space station for Shkaplerov and Virts . Last time Virts was in orbit , he was part of mission STS-130 acquit the Tranquillity and Cupola modules to thrive the station . Shkaplerov was in orbit more late , launching on Soyuz TMA-22 in 2011 as part of Expeditions 29 and 30 . Cristoforetti is already share her lightheaded delight as a place - freshman , with every pic home boast a broad grinning .
Amazing being in#space , good than anything I ever imagined . see my 1st sunrise from the Cupola today!#HelloEarthpic.twitter.com / iAnzJpZ9MV
— Samantha Cristoforetti ( @AstroSamantha)November 25 , 2014
This mission delivered thelong - expect espresso car to the space post , opening up the door for a whole young world ofelegant coffee in place .
https://gizmodo.com/the-mechanics-of-making-espresso-in-space-1591572598
https://gizmodo.com/celebrating-coffee-all-the-way-into-space-1640488299
a few hours after launch . Amazing!pic.twitter.com / CPqig2tDs1
— Terry Virts ( @AstroTerry)November 25 , 2014
Soyuz TMA-15 M docked to the International Space Station on November 24 , 2014 .
Update 2025-05-03 : For anyone concerned the handknit astrosocksexploded on Antares , fear not!We eventually have proofthat at least the upbeat sensationalistic socks from Canada made it on board and are currently maintain astronaut - toe snuggery and strong . Thank you to Xylo for the tip !
Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti may think she ’s establish zero - gravity stunting , but she ’s really showing off toasty toes in hand - pucker sock . Image cite : NASA / EA / RepTV
Butch Wilmorelaunch report
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