Soyuz TMA-8Soyuz-FG Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Launch Status Success Wed · Mar 29th, 2006 9:30 PM EST Watch Online Crew Jeffrey Williams Flight Engineer Status: Active 1/18/1958 - Nationality: American Type: Government First Flight: 5/19/2000 Last Flight: 3/18/2016 Jeffrey Nels Williams is a retired United States Army officer and a NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of four space flights and formerly held the American record for most days spent in space, which was surpassed in April 2017 by his colleague Peggy Whitson. Pavel Vinogradov Commander Status: Active 8/31/1953 - Nationality: Russian Type: Government First Flight: 8/5/1997 Last Flight: 3/28/2013 Pavel Vladimirovich Vinogradov (Russian: Павел Владимирович Виноградов; born August 31, 1953 in Magadan, USSR) is a cosmonaut and former commander of the International Space Station. As of May 2013, he has flown into space three times, aboard Mir and the International Space Station, and is one of the top 10 astronauts in terms of total time in space. Vinogradov has also conducted seven spacewalks in his cosmonaut career, and holds the record for the oldest person to perform a spacewalk. Marcos Pontes Spaceflight Participant Status: Active 3/11/1963 - Nationality: Brazilian Type: Government First Flight: 3/30/2006 Last Flight: 3/30/2006 Marcos Cesar Pontes (born March 11, 1963) is a Brazilian Air Force pilot, engineer, AEB astronaut and author. He became the first South American and the first Lusophone to go into space when he launched into the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-8 on March 30, 2006. He is the only Brazilian to have completed the NASA astronaut training program, although he switched to training in Russia after NASA's Space Shuttle program encountered problems. Mission Soyuz TMA-8 Type: Human Exploration Soyuz TMA-8 begins Expedition 13 by carrying 3 astronauts and cosmonauts to the International Space Station. Russian Commander, cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov alongside Flight Engineers, Jeffrey Williams (NASA) & spaceflight participant Marcos Pontes (Space Adventures) will launch aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and then rendezvous with the station. It landed on September 29, 2006, 01:13 UTC Location 1/5 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan 468 rockets have launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan. Rocket Soyuz Length: 49.5 meters Diameter: 3 meters First Launch: May 20, 2001 The Soyuz FG rocket is an expendable launch vehicle most commonly known for carrying humans to the International Space Station today. The Soyuz rocket has been launched a total of 60 times with 59 successful and 1 failed launches. Agency Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Type: Government Abbreviation: RFSA Administration: Administrator: Dmitry Rogozin Founded: 1992 Launchers: Soyuz Spacecraft: Soyuz Country: RUS The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, commonly known as Roscosmos, is the governmental body responsible for the space science program of the Russian Federation and general aerospace research. Soyuz has many launch locations the Russian sites are Baikonur, Plesetsk and Vostochny however Ariane also purchases the vehicle and launches it from French Guiana. View Rocket Launch Schedule