NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg (left), cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (right) trying the Russian Sokol suit at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

Trainers at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia observer NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (left) during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session on 27 November 2012.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano in a Soyuz simulator seen on a monitor at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg (left), cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (right) at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, November 2012.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (left) during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (left) during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (left) during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (left) during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (left) during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia on 27 November 2012. Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano during a Soyuz TMA spacecraft training session at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia on 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre 27 November 2012.

Luca is part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The prime crew will be launched in December 2012 to the International Space Station.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg (left), cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (right) trying the Russian Sokol suit at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Luca, Karen and Fyodor are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

The Russian inter-departmental commission approving the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft crewmembers at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

Luca Parmitano during the Russian inter-departmental commission approving the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft crewmembers at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

Luca Parmitano (right) during the Russian inter-departmental commission approving the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft crewmembers at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

Luca Parmitano (right) during the Russian inter-departmental commission approving the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft crewmembers at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano are the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

The Russian inter-departmental commission approving the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft prime and backup crews at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

Front, left to right: prime crew formed by cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield and NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn. Back, left to right: back-up crew consisting of NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

The prime crew will be launched on the Soyuz TMA-07M to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

The Russian inter-departmental commission approving the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft prime and backup crews at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

Front, left to right: prime crew formed by NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn, cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield. Back, left to right: back-up crew consisting of NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

The prime crew will be launched on the Soyuz TMA-07M to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

The Russian inter-departmental commission approving the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft prime and backup crews at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

Front, left to right: back-up crew consisting of NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano. Back, left to right: prime crew consisting of cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield and NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn.

The prime crew will be launched on the Soyuz TMA-07M to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

Luca Parmitano signing a document at the Russian inter-departmental commission to approve the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft crew at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

From left to right: cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano are part of the Soyuz TMA-07M back-up crew, the prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

As many astronauts and cosmonauts before him ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano visited the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center Space Museum, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

The Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft backup crew pose at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre Space Museum, on 30 November 2012.

From left to right: NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.

The complete Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft prime and backup crew at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre Space Museum, Russia, on 30 November 2012.

From left to right: NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn, cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield, NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

The Soyuz TMA-07M prime crew will be launched to the International Space Station in December 2012.

Luca is assigned engineer on a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.