Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – Russia's Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft blasts off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early on Wednesday, May 29. A Russian rocket carrying an international crew of U.S. astronaut Karen Nyberg, Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano launched from Kazakhstan and docked on the International Space Station. See photos from the last launch to and from the space station. Hide Caption 1 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – The spacecraft blasts off on May 29. Hide Caption 2 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – Flames from the spacecraft light up the night on May 29. Hide Caption 3 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – Nyberg, Yurchikhin and Parmitano walk from their hotel to a bus during a sending-off ceremony on Tuesday, May 28. Hide Caption 4 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – The astronauts wave to a crowd outside their hotel on May 28. Hide Caption 5 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – The crew have their space suits tested on May 28. Hide Caption 6 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – Nyberg smiles during the space suit testing on May 28. Hide Caption 7 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – The crew receive a traditional blessing from an Orthodox priest on May 28. Hide Caption 8 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – Parmitano gestures at relatives on May 28 during a sending-off ceremony. Hide Caption 9 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – Nyberg, Yurchikhin and Parmitano wave to their families during a send off on May 28. Hide Caption 10 of 12

Photos: Photos: Soyuz 36 heads to ISS Soyuz 36 heads to the International Space Station – The Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft stands on the launchpad on Sunday, May 26. Hide Caption 11 of 12