Space Station Photos: The Orbital Expedition 40/41 in Pictures

Expedition 40/41 Backup and Prime Crew Members Pose

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 40/41 backup and prime crew members pose for pictures in front of the Soyuz booster rocket's first stage engines May 24 during the final fit check training dress rehearsal. From left to right are backup crew members Terry Virts of NASA, Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency, Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), and prime crew members Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of Roscosmos and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA. Gerst, Suraev and Wiseman will launch May 29, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 40/41 Crew Displays Montages of Space Memorabilia Photos

Inside the Korolev Museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 40/41 prime and backup crewmembers display montages of space memorabilia photos that were presented to them May 24 during traditional pre-launch ceremonies. From left to right are backup crew members Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency and Terry Virts of NASA, prime crew members Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, Max Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Reid Wiseman of NASA, and backup crew member Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos.

Expedition 40/41 Outside Korolev Museum

Outside the Korolev Museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 40/41 prime crew members Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, far left), Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA (second from left) and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (third from left) display the flag of their Soyuz crew insignia May 24 during traditional pre-launch ceremonies. With them are backup crew members Terry Virts of NASA (third from right), Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (second from right) and Anton Shkaplerov (far right).

Reid Wiseman Plants a Tree

At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 40/41 Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA (center) plants a tree bearing his name May 21 in traditional pre-launch ceremonies. Assisting him are Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, left) and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (right).

Alexander Gerst Takes a Turn on a Tilt Table

At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 40/41 Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency takes a turn on a tilt table May 21 as he tests his vestibular system during pre-launch medical tests.

Expedition 40/41 Crew Mimic Cosmonaut’s Pose

Mimicking the pose taken years ago by a cosmonaut for the statue known as "The Fisherman" that stands at the entrance to the city of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 40/41 Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency , Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA pose for pictures May 21 at the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur as part of their traditional pre-launch training ceremonies.

Reid Wiseman Rides Spinning Chair

At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 40/41 Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA takes a ride in a spinning chair May 21 as he tests his vestibular system during pre-launch medical tests. Wiseman, Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency will launch on May 29, Kazakh time, on the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a 5 ½ month mission on the International Space Station.

Expedition 41 Six-Member Crew

Expedition 41 Six-Member Crew poses. Image released May 19, 2014.

Expedition 41’s Suraev and Wiseman Play Ping-Pong

At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 40/41 Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos, left) and NASA Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman try their hand at a game of Ping-Pong May 21 as they head into the homestretch of their pre-launch training.