Soyuz TMA-13M was a 2014 flight to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 40 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-13M is the 122nd flight of a Soyuz spacecraft since 1967, and the 39th Soyuz mission to the ISS. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station for the Expedition 41 increment to serve as an emergency escape vehicle until its departure in November 2014.
The Soyuz FG rocket carrying the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft was rolled to the launch pad at Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 26 May 2014. Under sunny skies, the roll out began at 7 o'clock in the morning. The rollout was attended by the Soyuz backup crew members, Anton Shkaplerov, Samantha Cristoforetti and Terry Virts. The Soyuz TMA-13M prime crew was not at the event, since it is considered to bring bad luck. Once the 49.5 meter tall Soyuz FG rocket was erected in its vertical launch position, the launcher was enclosed by its service structure, to provide protection and access platforms for workers.
The Soyuz TMA-13M mission patch was designed by Luc van den Abeelen for TsPK/Spacepatches.nl and Roscosmos. The patch is centred around the main image of a famous Baikonur monument, known as 'the fisherman'. The cosmonaut is shown floating over a blue Earth, with a departing Soyuz launch vehicle climbing towards the stars. The constellation depicted is Cepheus; this is the callsign chosen by the spacecraft commander. Banners enclosing the scene show the spacecraft designation, crew names and their national flags.
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