Baikonur spaceport saw traditional flag-raising ceremony symbolizing the beginning of final preflight preparations.
ISS-42/43 mission crew members raised the flags of the countries taking part in Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft launch: Russian cosmonauts of main and back-up crew Anton Shkaplerov and Oleg Kononenko – the flag of Russia, NASA astronauts Terry Virts and Kjell Lindgren – the flag of USA, ESA astronaut Samantha Christoforetti - the flag of Italy and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui – the flag of Kazakhstan.
The ceremony was attended by Baikonur town authorities and GCTC specialists.
According to the trainings time schedule on November 16 the back-up crew will visit Baikonur Museum of Cosmonautics an learn about long-standing space flight traditions.
