Expedition 9 Preflight

Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, right, and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Mike Fincke check each other's suits, Monday, April 19, 2004, prior to departing for the launch pad for their liftoff to the International Space Station April 19, 2004 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Padalka and Fincke launched with European Space Agency Astronaut Andre Kuipers of the Netherlands, who will spend 9 days on the Station, while Padalka and Fincke will remain on board until October. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)