Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques joins crew at space station

Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques and two international colleaguesjoined the crew at the International Space Station on Mondayfollowing a successful launch aboard a Soyuz rocket earlier in the day.

Saint-Jacques, 48, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenkoand American astronaut AnneMcClainare on amission that is scheduled to last 6months.

Astronaut Chris Hadfield explains the Soyuz space launch

6 years ago

Duration 12:10

Chris Hadfield explains what happens when fellow Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques and Russian astronaut Oleg Kononenko and American astronaut Anne McClain are launched into space aboard a Soyuz rocket, en route to the International Space Station.

The trio entered the International Space Station after spending nearly eight hours in their tiny capsule.

Theywere greeted upon arrival Monday by the station's current crew members,NASA's Serena Aunon-Chancellor, Russian Sergei Prokopyev and German Alexander Gerst, whowere waitingoutside the capsule's hatch when it opened at 1:37 a.m. (2:40 p.m. ET) while the station was flying over the southern coast of Yemen. Aunon-Chancellor, Prokopyev and Gerstare scheduled to return to Earth onDec. 20.

During a brief conversation with family members on the ground at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch site in Kazakhstan, Saint-Jacques said he was completely astounded by everything he had seen.

Speaking in French, he described his first sunrise seen from space as "breathtaking" and said it's just the beginning of the discoveries ahead of him.

Soyuz rocket launches in Kazakhstan

6 years ago

Duration 0:54

Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques lifts off with two other crew members bound for the International Space Station on Monday.

Saint-Jacques, Kononenko and McClainlaunched into space from the Russian-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday at 5:31 p.m. (6:31 a.m. ET). They docked with the station at 11:33 p.m. (12:33 p.m. ET). The families of the crew, other astronauts and space officials from several nations breathed a sigh of relief after observing the flawless launch, with October's Soyuz rocket failure still on the minds of many.

It was the first manned Russian rocket launch since a dramatic aborted Soyuz failure in October, when the two astronauts aboard were forced to make an emergency landing.

Russia suspendedall manned space launches pending an investigation before giving thegreen light to resume them on Nov. 1.

It's the first time a Canadian has been in space since 2013, when Chris Hadfield gained immense popularity around the world by providing glimpses and the occasional musical performance into daily life on board the orbiting laboratory.

Saint-Jacques adoctor who also holds degrees in engineering and astrophysicsas well as a commercial pilot's licencewas initially scheduled to head to the ISSlater this month, on Dec.20. However,hislaunch was moved up after the Soyuz malfunctionin October.

He'llspend his time at the ISSconducting experiments, operating Canadarm2(the Canadian-built robotic arm aboard the ISS)and testing new technologies, the Canadian Space Agency says. Some of the experiments will focus on the physical effects of the weak gravity astronauts experience in orbit, as well as how to provide remote medical care.

The crowd on hand to watch the launch included members of Saint-Jacques' family as well as Governor General Julie Payette, herself a former astronaut.

This could be the last time a Canadian launches on board a Soyuz: NASA is preparing to return humanlaunches to U.S. soil beginning in 2019, with two new crew capsules provided by SpaceX and Boeing.