Photos: Space Station's Expedition 33 Mission

Sunita Williams Exercises on Cycle Ergometer

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander, exercises on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System (CEVIS) in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station while participating in the first triathlon in space simultaneously with athletes in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon held in Southern California.

Sunita Williams Exercises in Destiny Laboratory

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander, exercises on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System (CEVIS) in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station while participating in the first triathlon in space simultaneously with athletes in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon held in Southern California.

Expedition 33 Crew During Fit Check

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Expedition 33 crew share a playful moment Oct. 10, 2012 during the first of two so-called “fit check” dress rehearsal sessions. From left to right are Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin and NASA Flight Engineer Kevin Ford.

Expedition 33 Crew Participate in Ceremony

The Expedition 33 prime and backup crew members participated in ceremonies outside their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan Oct. 11, 2012 highlighted by the traditional raising of the flags of the United States, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Cosmonaut Hotel Crew Quarters

At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Expedition 33 Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy (center) practices docking techniques on a laptop computer simulator as Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center instructors look on Oct. 17, 2012.

Expedition 33 Members Play Chess

Taking time out from training, Expedition 33 Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA (left) and backup Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin (right) play a game of chess at their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on Oct. 17, 2012.

A Prelaunch Tradition

Fulfilling a long-standing prelaunch tradition, Expedition 33 Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin (left), Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy (center) and Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA (right) stand by trees they planted in their names behind the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on Oct. 17, 2012.

Floating Freely

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander, is pictured floating freely in the Tranquility node of the International Space Station. on Oct. 14, 2012.

Writing on the Wall Before Expedition 33 Launch

In the Korolev Museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 18, 2012, Expedition 33 Flight Engineer Kevin Ford signs his name on the wall bearing the names of all crew members who have been launched from Baikonur in Soyuz vehicles.

A Mannequin Wearing a Spacesuit

The Expedition 33 prime and backup crews smile for photographers as they visit a mannequin wearing a Russian spacesuit in the Korolev Museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 18, 2012.