KAZAKHASTAN - 200912180013HQ - The flags of Russia Japan the United States and Kazakhstan are seen flying shortly.

KAZAKHASTAN - 200912180013HQ - The flags of Russia, Japan, the United States and Kazakhstan are seen flying shortly after the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft was raised into vertical position at the launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. The launch of the Soyuz spacecraft, with Expedition 22 NASA Flight Engineer Timothy J. Creamer of the United States, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov of Russia, and Flight Engineer Soichi Noguchi of Japan, is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at 3:52 a.m. Kazakhstan time. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls