Close Up View As Soyuz Arrives

The Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft’s docking probe is seen just after separation from the International Space Station.
This photo was among the first group of images downlinked from the station following the start of duty for the three Expedition 40 crew members, who will be joined by three more crew members in approximately two weeks. With Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA onboard, the Soyuz went on to land near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on May 14, 2014. Wakata, Tyurin and Mastracchio returned to Earth after more than six months onboard the orbital outpost where they served as members of the Expedition 38 and 39 crews.

ISS040-E-000005 (14 May 2014) Larger image