Photo Report: Launch of Soyuz TMA-9 From Baikonur Cosmodrome

September 18, 2006. Baikonur Cosmodrome At 08:08:42 Moscow Daylight Saving Time a launch vehicle Soyuz-FG with Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur launch site to the International Space Station. The Increment 14 (ISS-14) crew and visiting crew 11 (VC-11) are on board the Russian transport manned vehicle. The crew of Soyuz TMA-9 consists of† a Russian pilot-cosmonaut, test cosmonaut of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia Mikhail Vladislavovich Turin, NASA astronaut Michael Eladio Lopez-Alegria; a space flight participant† Ansari Anousheh. The objective of the launch is the scheduled replacement of the crew of Expedition Thirteen (ISS-13) and of the Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft that has been serving within the space station as its crew rescue vehicle since April 1, 2006.

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