On November 24, 2014, 05:48 Moscow time, Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft launched from #31 launching pad of Baikonur spaceport on November 24, 00.01, Moscow time, successfully docked with the ISS Rassvet small research module. The docking was accomplished in automatic mode under control of MCC specialists and spacecraft crew comprising crew commander Anton Shkaplerov (Roscosmos) and flight engineers Samantha Christoforetti (ESA) and Terry Virts (NASA). Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyayev and Elena Serova supervised the docking from the ISS.
According to the ISS flight schedule in the course of their mission ISS-42/43 crew will work with Progress M-25M, Prpgress M-26M and Progress M-27M cargo vehicles, European ATV-5 “Georges Lemaitre” and Japanese HTV-5 “Kounotori” cargo vehicles; the crew will also prepare ISS-41/42 mission crew for the landing onboard Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft and take part in docking operations when Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft will dock with Poisk small research module of the ISS.
Decides the working plan stipulates busy schedule of scientific researches and experiments in various fields such as space biotechnology, medical and biological researches, remote sounding of the Earth, etc.
Roscosmos cosmonauts will accomplish 59 experiments.
The crew will spend about 169 days onboard the ISS.
