Preparing for the void: the final training before Expedition 41 launches

Space · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before ascending to the International Space Station, the Expedition 41 crew underwent rigorous qualification training in Star City, Russia. This critical phase ensures that astronauts and cosmonauts are ready for the complexities of microgravity, from conducting human research to performing high-stakes spacewalks in the vacuum of space.

At Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, the Expedition 41 team met during early September 2014 for concluding qualification drills. This group included Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev and Flight Engineer Elena Serova from Roscosmos, alongside NASA Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore. To prepare for possible mission emergencies, backups including NASA's Scott Kelly alongside Roscosmos's Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka attended. The training sessions took place at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. This facility is located in Star City, Russia.

The mission was set to begin on September 26, 2014, Kazakh time, using the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft. Elena Serova faced a historic milestone, being designated as the fourth Russian woman ever to travel into space. This crew was tasked with a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station, focusing on diverse scientific inquiries. The crew's primary vessel for the journey was the Soyuz TMA-14M. This spacecraft was scheduled to depart on September 26, 2014, according to Kazakh time.

The scientific objectives for Expedition 41 were expansive, ranging from studying muscle and bone changes caused by space exposure to investigating meteor composition and plant growth in weightlessness. Beyond the laboratory, the crew faced the physical demands of extravehicular activities. For example, during the mission, spacewalkers like Max Suraev and Alexander Samokutyaev performed tasks lasting 3 hours and 38 minutes, while others, such as Reid Wiseman and Barry Wilmore, conducted much longer excursions, including one lasting 6 hours and 34 minutes. The mission's scientific scope also involved exploring the field of space physics. Additionally, the crew captured numerous images of Earth and the orbiting station.

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