A six-hour journey to join the crew of the International Space Station
In short: On September 25, 2014, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft launched from Kazakhstan, carrying three astronauts toward a high-stakes mission. This arrival restored the station's full complement and initiated months of critical research into everything from plant biology to meteor compositions.
From Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, NASA's Barry “Butch” Wilmore joined Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova for departure. Following a six-hour journey, the Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station, joining existing crew members Max Suraev, Reid Wiseman, and Alexander Gerst. This arrival brought the station's total crew complement back to six members. The launch occurred at 4:25 p.m. EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Upon arrival, the newcomers were greeted by Reid Wiseman.
The mission, designated as Expedition 41/42, was scheduled to last approximately five-and-a-half to six months. During this period, the crew would conduct hundreds of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations. One notable study, Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) 19, focused on how the growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana—a small flowering plant related to cabbage—is altered by microgravity. Researchers hoped these findings would eventually improve farming practices and biomass production on Earth. The BRIC 19 project aims to maximise research efficiency by reducing the time required from both the crew and the spacecraft.
Beyond biology, the mission included the Meteor Composition Determination (Meteor) investigation. By examining high-resolution imagery and video of the atmosphere, this research assessed the chemical composition, size, and density of meteoroid dust. This marked the initial scientific study of meteors conducted from space during their atmospheric entry. While the new crew members were set to return to Earth in March 2015, Wilmore was scheduled to take over as the station commander for Expedition 42. This investigation utilized advanced video analysis to study the physical properties of dust. Elena Serova made history during this mission as the first female cosmonaut to arrive at the station.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: New Crew Launches to the ISS on This Week @NASA - September 26, 2014
- Also: New Crew Launches to Space Station to Continue Scientific Research - NASA
- Also: New US-Russian Crew Launches to International Space Station
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