Soyuz launcher transferred to launch pad

25 May 2009

Early this morning, the Soyuz launcher that will bring ESA astronaut Frank De Winne to the International Space Station for his six-month OasISS mission was transferred to the launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazahkstan. The launch is scheduled for 12:34 CEST on 27 May.

The Soyuz launcher arrived at launch pad 1 following a two-hour journey from the integration building. The launcher was erected on the launch pad later in the day after a delay caused by high winds at the launch site.

Also today, De Winne and his two Soyuz TMA-15 crewmates, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, participated in the traditional tree-planting ceremony at the Cosmonauts Hotel in Baikonur.

More images are available in the ESA Multimedia Gallery - follow the link to the 'Image gallery' on the left menu.

Roll-out of the Soyuz launcher

Soyuz launcher is erected on the launch pad

The Soyuz TMA-15 crew take part in the traditional tree-planting ceremony ahead of their launch to the ISS

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