In photos: 'Soyuz rocket launch at Baikonur'

Crew members of the 17th mission to the International Space Station (ISS) South Korea's first astronaut, biosystems engineering student So-Yeon Yi (top), commander Sergei Volkov (front) and Oleg Kononenko (C), both of Russia, wave as they board a Russian Soyuz rocket at Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, 08 April 2008. So-Yeon Yi will make a short term flight as her crew members Volkov and Kononenko will stay in the ISS for the 17th long-term mission. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

South Korean first astronaut, biosystems engineering student So-Yeon Yi, waves during a farewell ceremony before boarding a Russian Soyuz rocket at Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, 08 April 2008. So-Yeon Yi will make a short term flight as her crew members, commander Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, both of Russia will stay in the International Space Station for the 17th long-term mission. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

First ever woman-cosmonaut, Russian Valentina Tereshkova (L) assists South Korean first astronaut, biosystems engineering student So-Yeon Yi (2-L), as Russian cosmonaut Alexander Volkov (C) assists his son Sergei Volkov (R) to board a Russian Soyuz rocket at Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, 08 April 2008. So-Yeon Yi will make a short term flight as her crew members, commander Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, both of Russia will stay in the International Space Station for the 17th long-term mission. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

South Korea's first astronaut, a female biosystems engineering student, So-Yeon Yi , 29, gives a thumbs-up as she stands behind Russian Oleg Kononenko during a farewell ceremony prior to boarding the Russian Soyuz rocket at Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 08 April 2008. So-Yeon Yi will conduct 14 scientific experiments during her 12 day mission. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

Russian 'Soyuz" rocket booster lifts off from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, 08 April 2008, carrying members of the seventeenth mission to the International Space Station: commander Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko both of Russia and the first South Korean astronaut, a biosystems EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

Russian 'Soyuz' rocket booster lifts off from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, 08 April 2008, carrying members of the seventeenth mission to the International Space Station: commander Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko both of Russia and the first South Korean astronaut, a biosystems engineering student, So-Yeon Yi. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV