Their main task will be to keep the space station up and running until another crew arrives in October, most likely on another Soyuz rocket.

The occasion also marked the 1750th launch of a Soyuz rocket in its various configurations.

Later dates would require a riskier night return by the Soyuz rocket, a step the Russians oppose.

On Sept. 6, a crew of astronauts will be launched toward the space station on a Soyuz rocket.

NBC agreed to pay about $35 million, which included $20 million for a Soyuz rocket.

A Soyuz rocket blasted off, carrying two astronauts who will carry out precarious but urgent repairs on the station.

It will be integrated with a special version of the Progress cargo ship and launched by a standard Soyuz rocket.

The Soyuz 18 rocket linked up with the Salyut 4 space station.

The launch of Pléiades-1, via a Soyuz rocket, was confirmed on December 16, 2011.

Luna-Glob is slated to be launched after 2015 by a Soyuz 2 rocket.