jsc2013e090729

At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the Expedition 38/39 prime and backup crewmembers pose for pictures in front of the statue of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space, October 22, 2013 following a news conference and traditional ceremonies. Front left to right are prime crewmembers Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA and backup crewmembers Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency, Max Suraev and NASA’s Reid Wiseman. Wakata, Tyurin and Mastracchio will launch Nov. 7, Kazakh time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft for the start of a six-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll