Photos: Soyuz Rocket Takes Shape for Launch of Next Space Station Crew

Engineers at the Baikonur Cosmodrome completed the assembly of a Soyuz FG rocket on December 14, 2017 in preparation for a December 17th liftoff with the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft, carrying Anton Shkaplerov, Norishige Kanai and Scott Tingle to the International Space Station. Work completed in the weeks leading up to launch included the assembly of the two-part Block A core stage and the installation of the four Block B, V, G, D boosters. Upon arrival of the encapsulated spacecraft, engineers attached the Launch Escape Tower and mated the payload adapter to the Block I third stage before the upper section was lifted in position for installation atop the core stage to mark the completion of launch vehicle assembly.

All Photos: RSC Energia / Roscosmos