US-Russian Crew Blasts Off to International Space Station 14 March 2019, by Vladimir Isachenkov and Dmitry Lovetsky

US-Russian crew blasts off to International Space Station 14 March 2019, by Vladimir Isachenkov And Dmitry Lovetsky

On Oct. 11, a Soyuz that Hague and Ovchinin were riding in failed two minutes into its flight, activating a rescue system that allowed their capsule to land safely. That accident was the first aborted crew launch for the Russian space program since 1983, when two Soviet cosmonauts safely jettisoned after a launch pad explosion.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine congratulated the crew on a successful launch. "So proud of Nick Hague for persevering through last October's launch that didn't go as planned," he tweeted.

Speaking at a pre-launch news conference at Baikonur, the crew said they trusted the rocket and U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, centre, Nick fully believed in the success of their mission. Hague, above, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, crew members of the mission to the International Space Station, ISS, wave as they board to the rocket prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Kyrill Kudryavtsev, Pool)

A Russian-American crew of three blasted off to the International Space Station early Friday, making a second attempt to reach the outpost after October's aborted launch.

A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying NASA astronauts U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, left, Nick Nick Hague and Christina Koch along with Hague, right, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, Roscosmos' Alexei Ovchinin lifted off as planned members of the main crew to the International Space from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at Station (ISS), pose near a bus prior to the launch of the 12:14 a.m. Friday (1914 GMT Thursday). Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Their Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft reached a The new Soyuz mission to the International Space designated orbit about nine minutes after the Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March. 14. (AP launch, and the crew reported they were feeling Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) fine and all systems on board were operating normally. They are set to dock at the space station in about six hours. "I'm 100 percent confident in the rocket and the spacecraft," Hague said. "The events from October

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only helped to solidify that and boost confidence in scenarios. And because we do train that way, like in the vehicle to do its job." October when things like that happened, we were ready to do what we need to do to come out The trio will join NASA's Anne McClain, successfully." Roscosmos' Oleg Kononenko and David Saint- Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency who are The October failure was the first aborted launch for currently on the space station. They will conduct the Russian space program in 35 years and only work on hundreds of experiments in biology, the third in history. Each time, the rocket's biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. automatic rescue system kept the crew safe.

When one of the four strap-on boosters for their A Russian investigation attributed October's launch Soyuz failed to separate properly two minutes after failure to a sensor that was damaged during the their launch in October, Hague and Ovchinin were rocket's final assembly. The next crew launch to the jettisoned from the rocket. Their rescue capsule space station in December went on without a hitch. plunged steeply back to Earth with its lights flashing and alarms screaming, subjecting the crew to Ovchinin recalled that they felt "more annoyed than seven times the force of gravity. stressed" when their rescue capsule touched down in the barren steppes of Kazakhstan. "It was Hague emphasized Wednesday that they were well-disappointing and a bit frustrating that we didn't trained for the emergency. make it to the International Space Station," he said.

An Orthodox priest conducts a blessing service in front of The Soyuz rocket is seen at dawn on launch site 1 of the the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur Baikonur Cosmodrome, Thursday, March 14, 2019, in cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 59's astronauts Nick The new Soyuz mission to the International Space Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March 14 with Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch later in the day, U.S. U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Nick Hague, time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin. (AP Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) International Space Station.(Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

"The nature of our profession is we spend 90-95 NASA and Roscosmos praised the crew's valor and percent of our time practicing what to do when composure in the aborted launch and promised to things go wrong," he said. "And so we spend all quickly give them a second chance into space. that time training, running through all those

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"We don't accept the risk blindly, we have mitigated it as much as we can, and we always plan to be successful," Hague said.

Ovchinin stressed that the aborted launch in October was an "interesting and very useful experience" that "proved the reliability of the emergency rescue system."

Since the 2011 retirement of the U.S. shuttle fleet, Russia's Soyuz spacecraft have been the only vehicles that can ferry crews to the space station.

NASA, however, is counting on SpaceX and Boeing to start launching astronauts this year. The SpaceX ship Dragon returned Friday from a six-day An Orthodox priest conducts a blessing service in front of unmanned demonstration flight to the space station the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur and could take astronauts there on its next flight as cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. early as this summer. The new Soyuz mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March 14 with U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Nick Hague,

and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

An Orthodox priest walks after a blessing service in front of the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. The new Soyuz mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March 14 with U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, left, Nick U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Nick Hague, Hague, right, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin. (AP members of the main crew to the International Space Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Station (ISS), pose near a bus prior to the launch of the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. The new Soyuz mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March. 14. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, left, Nick Hague, right, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, members of the main crew to the International Space U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, a members of Station (ISS), pose near a bus prior to the launch of the the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur interacts with his relatives from a bus prior to the launch cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. of the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur The new Soyuz mission to the International Space cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March. 14. (AP The new Soyuz mission to the International Space Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March. 14. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

U.S. astronauts Nick Hague, a members of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), interacts Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, a members of the with his relatives from a bus prior to the launch launch of main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur interacts with his relative from a bus prior to the launch of cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur The new Soyuz mission to the International Space cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March. 14. (AP The new Soyuz mission to the International Space Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March. 14. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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Russian Space Agency experts help Russian cosmonaut U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, a members of Alexey Ovchinin, member of the main crew of the the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), to interacts with his relatives from a bus prior to the launch stand up after inspecting his space suit prior the launch of the Soyuz FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March The new Soyuz mission to the International Space 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Station (ISS) is scheduled on Thursday, March. 14. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, crew member of the mission to the International Space Station, ISS, waves near the rocket prior the launch of Soyuz-FG Russian Space Agency experts help U.S. astronaut Nick rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Hague, member of the main crew of the expedition to the Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Kyrill International Space Station (ISS), to stand up after Kudryavtsev, Pool) inspecting his space suit prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch and Nick U.S. astronaut Nick Hague, member of the main crew of Hague, crew members of the mission to the International the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), Space Station, ISS, wave as they board to the rocket gestures to his relatives from a bus prior the launch of prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Kyrill Kudryavtsev, Pool) (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

U.S. astronaut Nick Hague, crew members of the mission U.S. astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, member of the to the International Space Station, ISS, waves near the main crew of the expedition to the International Space rocket prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian Station (ISS), gestures to her relatives from a bus prior leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Kyrill Kudryavtsev, Pool) leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

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U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, left, Nick U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, left, Nick Hague, right, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, Hague, right, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, members of the main crew of the expedition to the members of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), walk prior the launch of International Space Station (ISS), speaks with their Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur relatives through a safety glass prior the launch of Soyuz cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool) cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, left, Nick U.S. astronaut Nick Hague, member of the main crew of Hague, right, and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), members of the main crew of the expedition to the speaks with his relatives through a safety glass prior the International Space Station (ISS), walk prior the launch of launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool) (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

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U.S. astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, member of the U.S. astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), speaks with her relatives through a safety Station (ISS), speaks with her relatives through a safety glass prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the glass prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool) Pool)

U.S. astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Russian Space Agency experts help U.S. astronaut Station (ISS), looks on during inspecting her space suit Christina Hammock Koch, member of the main crew of prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), to Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, stand up after inspecting her space suit prior the launch Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)

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U.S. astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, member of the U.S. astronaut Nick Hague, member of the main crew of main crew of the expedition to the International Space the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), Station (ISS), looks on during inspecting her space suit looks on during inspecting his space suit prior the launch prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

U.S. astronaut Christina Hammock Koch, member of the Russian Space Agency experts help Russian cosmonaut main crew of the expedition to the International Space Alexey Ovchinin, member of the main crew of the Station (ISS), looks on prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), to space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, stand up after inspecting his space suit prior the launch Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Lovetsky) Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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U.S. astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, right, and Nick Hague, members of the main crew of the expedition to U.S. astronaut Nick Hague Russian, member of the main the International Space Station (ISS), wave prior the crew of the expedition to the International Space Station launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased (ISS), gestures prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Russian Space Agency experts help U.S. astronaut Nick Hague, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), to stand up after inspecting his space suit prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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