BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the launch of the Expedition 15 crew to the space station aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft. Reload this page for updates.

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: SOYUZ DOCKS WITH THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: HATCH OPENING AND SOYUZ CREW ENTERING STATION PLAY
VIDEO: VIPS INCLUDING MARTHA STEWART CALL THE CREW PLAY

VIDEO: CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS ON LAUNCH MORNING PLAY
VIDEO: AFTER SUITING UP, CREW GOES TO THE PAD PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH OF SOYUZ WITH EXPEDITION 15 PLAY
VIDEO: LONGER LENGTH MOVIE OF THE ENTIRE LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: REPLAY FROM LAUNCH CAMERA 1 PLAY
VIDEO: REPLAY FROM LAUNCH CAMERA 2 PLAY

VIDEO: THE SOYUZ ROCKET IS ROLLED TO LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: EXPEDITION 15 MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: BIOGRAPHIES OF EXPEDITION 15 CREW PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT MISSION BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: EXPEDITION 14 RECAP PLAY
MORE: EXPEDITION 15 VIDEO INDEX
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MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007
2100 GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT)

"The launch was beautiful, Charles," pal Martha Stewart radioed Simonyi from Russian mission control center outside of Moscow.

"I want to thank your two captains for such a safe and beautiful trip, and I just want you know that we all think you are intrepid, a pioneer and above all, guess what? You are out of this world!"

"Martha, it is really an honor to be here at this outpost," Simonyi replied.

"We are in very high spirits, feel great," newly-arrived station flight engineer Oleg Kotov told Russian leaders. "This is our new home and we're already beginning to like it."

2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT)

The hatchway has been opened between the station and Soyuz, a bit earlier than scheduled.

Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Oleg Kotov, along with tourist Charles Simonyi, are now floating into the space station. Yurchikhin and Kotov are beginning a six-month stay on the orbital complex, while Simonyi is visiting for the next 11 days. They are joining the station's current residents -- Michael Lopez-Alegria, Mikhail Tyurin and Suni Williams.

The joint crew will be receiving congratulatory calls from folks watching today's events from the Russian mission control center outside of Moscow. Simonyi's pal Martha Stewart is expected to be one of the VIPs taking part in the crew's welcoming ceremony.

Later today, the crews will unload equipment and experiments launched aboard the newly-arrived Soyuz and perform the normal post-docking deactivation of capsule systems. Williams and Simonyi will swap their Soyuz seatliners between the new Soyuz TMA-10 and the Soyuz TMA-9 capsules. Simonyi will ride TMA-9 back to Earth with the departing Expedition 14 crew on April 20; Williams becomes an official member of Expedition 15 with the transfer of her seatliner.

1945 GMT (3:45 p.m. EDT)

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two fresh crew members and a wealthy American space tourist docked with the international space station today to close out a two-day orbital chase. The linkup at the downward facing port of the Russian Zarya module occurred at 3:10 p.m. as the two spacecraft sailed high above Eastern Europe.

Read our story.

1923 GMT (3:23 p.m. EDT)

The hooks and latches are confirmed closed, forming a seal between Soyuz and its docking port. Pressure and leak checks will be performed on the interface over the next orbit before the hatchway is opened for the crew to enter into the station.

1912 GMT (3:12 p.m. EDT)

Over the next few minutes, the Soyuz docking probe will retract to allow hooks and latches to bring the spacecraft to a firm seal with the station. Hatches between the two vehicles will be opened around 5 p.m. EDT.

1910 GMT (3:10 p.m. EDT)

DOCKING. The Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft has docked to the Zarya control module of the International Space Station, delivering the Expedition 15 cosmonauts Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov and tourist Charles Simonyi.

1910 GMT (3:10 p.m. EDT)

Ten meters to go, closing at 0.18 meters per second.

1908 GMT (3:08 p.m. EDT)

Distance is now 20 meters, closing at 0.2 meters per second.

1907 GMT (3:07 p.m. EDT)

The spacecraft are flying into an orbital sunset above Europe.

1906 GMT (3:06 p.m. EDT)

Soyuz remains under control of its KURS automated docking system guiding the capsule to the station.

1905 GMT (3:05 p.m. EDT)

Now 50 meters separating Soyuz and the space station. The closure rate has slowed to 0.2 meters per second.

1904 GMT (3:04 p.m. EDT)

About 85 meters to go. Soyuz is closing at 0.4 meters per second.

1902 GMT (3:02 p.m. EDT)

Now 10 minutes to docking. Soyuz has begun final approach.

1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)

The capsule is holding its current position during a planned stationkeeping period.

1857 GMT (2:57 p.m. EDT)

Soyuz is completing a roll maneuver to orient itself with the station. Distance is now 200 meters.

1855 GMT (2:55 p.m. EDT)

Now less than 300 meters between the two craft.

1853 GMT (2:53 p.m. EDT)

The Soyuz is performing a flyaround maneuver to align with the docking port.

1850 GMT (2:50 p.m. EDT)

Just over two days since launching from Baikonur, the Soyuz has closed the distance between itself and the station to less than 1 kilometer.

1845 GMT (2:45 p.m. EDT)

The rendezvous sequence continues for the Soyuz spacecraft. The capsule has automated control, with cosmonaut Oleg Kotov poised to take over for a manual docking if needed.

Docking to the Zarya module of the space station remains set for 3:12 p.m. EDT.

1505 GMT (11:05 a.m. EDT)

The Soyuz spacecraft is nearing the space station for docking about four hours from now, at 3:12 p.m. EDT. The capsule will be linking up to the Zarya control module's nadir port.

The Expedition 14 crew on the station is asleep. The wakeup call to begin the workday is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EDT. Breakfast follows at 12:10 p.m. and then the daily planning conference with flight controllers.

SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2007

Lighting up the night sky, a Russian Soyuz rocket carrying a wealthy American space tourist and two cosmonauts bound for the international space station blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan today and thundered safely into orbit. Liftoff occurred on time at 1:31:09 p.m. EDT (11:31 p.m. local time) and if all goes well, the Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft will dock at a downward-facing port on the station's Russian Zarya module around 3:12 p.m. Monday.

Read our launch story.

1742 GMT (1:42 p.m. EDT)

Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, flight engineer Oleg Kotov and tourist Charles Simonyi have arrived in orbit following a smooth launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. A pair of maneuvers later today and another one Sunday will adjust the capsule's trajectory to set up for Monday's docking with the space station. Yurchikhin and Kotov are starting a six-month mission in space, while Simonyi will be visiting the station and returning to Earth on April 20 with the outgoing Expedition 14 station residents.

1741 GMT (1:41 p.m. EDT)

The craft is completing the sequence to deploy power-generating solar arrays, as well as antennas for navigational and communication systems.

1740 GMT (1:40 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes. CAPSULE SEPARATION! The Soyuz spacecraft is flying free after the upper stage finished its engine firing and then separated away. The capsule is in pursuit of the International Space Station for a planned docking just after 3 p.m. EDT on Monday.

1739 GMT (1:39 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. About a minute remains in the propulsion by the upper stage. The motor consumes kerosene and liquid oxygen just like the Soyuz rocket's other powerplants.

1738 GMT (1:38 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes. Soyuz remains stable as the four-nozzle engine of the upper stage burns to achieve a safe orbit around Earth.

1737 GMT (1:37 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes. Upper stage is firing as the flight continues as planned.

1736 GMT (1:36 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. The core stage of the Soyuz rocket has shut down and separated, leaving the upper stage to complete the job of injecting the Soyuz capsule into orbit.

1735 GMT (1:35 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. Everything still looking good.

1735 GMT (1:35 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. The core motor continues to fire on its propellant mixture of kerosene fuel and supercold liquid oxygen.

1734 GMT (1:34 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Live video from cameras in the cockpit show the crew waving and enjoying the launch to space.

1734 GMT (1:34 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes. The safety escape tower and launch shroud have been jettisoned from the atop the Soyuz capsule.

1733 GMT (1:33 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 15 seconds. The four strap-on boosters clustered around the Soyuz rocket's main stage have burned out and separated. The core motor continues to fire.

1733 GMT (1:33 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes. The crew reports everything is going normally.

1732 GMT (1:32 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. The vehicle is being thrusted skyward on the power generated by the NPO Energomash RD-107 engines on each of the four strap-on boosters and the RD-108 engine of the core stage.

1732 GMT (1:32 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds. One minute into this nighttime ascent for the Soyuz rocket and its three-man crew. Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin is strapped into the left-hand seat, with Oleg Kotov in the center seat for his role as the Soyuz pilot and Charles Simonyi in the right-hand seat.

1731 GMT (1:31 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. The Soyuz has maneuvered on course its rendezvous with the space station. Docking is anticipated to occur 50 hours from now. The station currently is flying half-a-world away, over the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

1731 GMT (1:31 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Soyuz rocket launching the Expedition 15 crew to oversee the next phase of assembling the International Space Station!

1730 GMT (1:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 40 seconds. The first umbilical arm has separated from Soyuz. The second will retract in the next few seconds.

1730 GMT (1:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute and counting. The Soyuz has been placed on internal power.

1729 GMT (1:29 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. Rocket propellant tank pressurization is underway. The vehicle's onboard measurement system is activated. Oxidizer and fuel drain and safety valves of the launch vehicle have been closed.

1728 GMT (1:28 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The nitrogen purge of the combustion chambers of side and central engine pods of the rocket is being performed in preparation for ignition.

1727 GMT (1:27 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes. The launch key has been inserted in the bunker for liftoff.

1726 GMT (1:26 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting. Systems of the Soyuz have switched to onboard control, the ground measurement system and the Soyuz commander's controls are being activated.

1725 GMT (1:25 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 6 minutes. The automatic program for final launch operations is being initiated.

1723 GMT (1:23 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 8 minutes. The station's current residents will be watching an uplinked video feed of the launch.

1722 GMT (1:22 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and counting. The crew has closed its helmet visors.

1721 GMT (1:21 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 10 minutes. The crew inside the Soyuz capsule are activating recorders to collect data during launch.

1719 GMT (1:19 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 12 minutes and counting. No problems are being reported in the countdown.

1717 GMT (1:17 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 14 minutes and counting. The Soyuz telemetry systems are being activated. They will relay real-time data back to Earth during today's launch.

1714 GMT (1:14 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 17 minutes. At this point in the countdown, realignment of the Soyuz rocket's trajectory control system and checks of internal batteries should be complete. The Soyuz telemetry system will soon be activated and monitoring of Soyuz's thermal control system also will begin.

1711 GMT (1:11 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting.

1706 GMT (1:06 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 25 minutes. The crew is completing leak checks of their Sokol launch spacesuits.

1701 GMT (1:01 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. The emergency escape system is being armed. The system would be employed if a major malfunction occurs, propelling the Soyuz capsule off the top of the rocket to safety.

1649 GMT (12:49 p.m. EDT)

The two-piece service structure that has enclosed the Soyuz rocket during its stay at the launch pad is being retracted right now. The towers will be rotating to a horizontal position. Several other umbilical arms connecting the rocket to the ground will be retracted at various times later in the countdown.

1646 GMT (12:46 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 45 minutes. The weather at Baikonur for this night launch is cloudy with some drizzle reported and temperatures in the 30s F, NASA says.

1641 GMT (12:41 p.m. EDT)

Station commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, flight engineer Oleg Kotov and tourist Charles Simonyi were awakened at 0900 GMT (5 a.m. EDT) today to begin launch day activities. They signed the doors at crew quarters and received religious blessings before boarding a bus that took the three men the 25-mile distance into the cosmodrome. They donned their white Sokol launch and entry suits, met with Russian space officials and then headed for the pad. Crowds of well-wishers gathered to wave goodbye as the crew reached the pad. An elevator took the men up to the capsule-level of the tower to begin climbing aboard the cramped spacecraft.

1631 GMT (12:31 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 60 minutes and counting. The Soyuz rocket is fueled, the crew is aboard and the countdown is progressing for liftoff of the space station's Expedition 15 mission at 1731 GMT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

0500 GMT (1 a.m. EDT)

Read our preview of Saturday's launch here.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2007

The Russian Soyuz rocket is being prepped on the launch pad for its blastoff Saturday carrying a three-man crew to the International Space Station.

Liftoff from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for 1:31 p.m. EDT (1731 GMT), beginning a 9-minute ascent to orbit for the three-stage liquid-fueled booster.

It will take two days for the Soyuz TMA-10 capsule to the reach station, with docking to the Zarya module expected around 3:15 p.m. EDT (1915 GMT) on Monday. The linkup will deliver commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Oleg Kotov to the orbiting complex to start a six-month expedition.

Joining the cosmonauts for the trip to the station is tourist Charles Simonyi. He will spend more than a week aboard the outpost before returning to the Earth with departing Expedition 14 crewmates Michael Lopez-Alegria and Mikhail Tyurin. Landing of the Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft is scheduled for 9:37 a.m. EDT (1337 GMT) April 20.

Yurchikhin, a veteran of a previous spaceflight on shuttle Atlantis in 2002, and rookie Kotov will oversee the next phase of station assembly along with NASA astronaut Suni Williams. She has been living on the station since December, and will be part of Expedition 15 until this summer when her replacement arrives on a shuttle visit.

Simonyi is paying a reported $20 million for the experience of flying in space. The software engineer is a former Microsoft executive. He will be the fifth tourist to visit the station.

On the eve of liftoff, the crew received its certification for launch by Russian leaders and participated in ceremonial activities at the cosmonaut hotel. They were spending the afternoon reviewing the launch day timeline and the flight plans covering the two-day trek from liftoff through docking at the station.

The Soyuz was rolled from its hangar to the launch pad on Thursday morning. Mounted horizontally on a railcar, the rocket journeyed along a winding route from the integration facility at Site 254 to the pad under cloudy skies.

Hydraulic pistons lifted the rocket upright on the pad and gantry swing arms moved into position to enclose the vehicle. Technicians on four levels hooked up electrical and telemetry cables between the rocket and pad.

Here is an overview the key events in Saturday's countdown, as provided by NASA:

• T- 6:00:00 Batteries are installed in the booster
  
  
• T- 5:30:00 State commission gives "go" to take launch vehicle
  
  
• T- 5:15:00 Crew arrives at site 254
  
  
• T- 5:00:00 Tanking begins
  
  
• T- 4:20:00 Spacesuit donning
  
  
• T- 4:00:00 Booster is loaded with liquid oxygen
  
  
• T- 3:40:00 Crew meets delegations
  
  
• T- 3:10:00 Reports to the State commission
  
  
• T- 3:05:00 Transfer to the launch pad
  
  
• T- 3:00:00 Vehicle first and second stage oxidizer fueling complete
  
  
• T- 2:35:00 Crew arrives at launch vehicle
  
  
• T- 2:30:00 Crew ingress through orbital module side hatch
  
  
• T- 2:00:00 Crew in re-entry vehicle
  
  
• T- 1:45:00 Re-entry vehicle hardware tested; suits are ventilated
  
  
• T- 1:30:00 Launch command monitoring and supply unit prepared;
  -- Orbital compartment hatch tested for sealing
  
  
• T- 1:00:00 Launch vehicle control system prepared for use; gyro instruments activated
  
  
• T- :45:00 Launch pad service structure halves are lowered
  
  
• T- :40:00 Re-entry vehicle hardware testing complete; leak checks performed on suits
  
  
• T- :30:00 Emergency escape system armed; launch command supply unit activated
  
  
• T- :25:00 Service towers withdrawn
  
  
• T- :15:00 Suit leak tests complete; crew engages personal escape hardware auto mode
  
  
• T- :10:00 Launch gyro instruments uncaged; crew activates on-board recorders
  
  
• T- 7:00 All prelaunch operations are complete
  
  
• T- 6:15 Key to launch command given at the launch site;
  -- Automatic program of final launch operations is activated
  
  
• T- 6:00 All launch complex and vehicle systems ready for launch
  
  
• T- 5:00 Onboard systems switched to onboard control;
  -- Ground measurement system activated by RUN 1 command;
  -- Commander's controls activated;
  -- Crew switches to suit air by closing helmets;
  -- Launch key inserted in launch bunker
  
  
• T- 3:15 Combustion chambers of side and central engine pods purged with nitrogen
  
  
• T- 2:30 Booster propellant tank pressurization starts;
  -- Onboard measurement system activated by RUN 2 command;
  -- Prelaunch pressurization of all tanks with nitrogen begins
  
  
• T- 2:15 Oxidizer and fuel drain and safety valves of launch vehicle are closed;
  -- Ground filling of oxidizer and nitrogen to the launch vehicle is terminated
  
  
• T- 1:00 Vehicle on internal power;
  -- Automatic sequencer on;
  -- First umbilical tower separates from booster
  
  
• T- :40 Ground power supply umbilical to third stage is disconnected
  
  
• T- :20 Launch command given at the launch position;
  -- Central and side pod engines are turned on
  
  
• T- :15 Second umbilical tower separates from booster
  
  
• T- :10 Engine turbopumps at flight speed
  
  
• T- :05 First stage engines at maximum thrust
  
  
• T- :00 Fueling tower separates;
  -- Lift off

Watch this page for live updates during the final countdown and launch.