Welcome aboard! The newest residents have floated into the International Space Station from their Soyuz capsule for the formal ceremony. Also participating via a live communications linkup are the VIPs gathered on the balcony in Russia's mission control center outside Moscow.

The hatchway between the Soyuz spacecraft and the station was opened at 2:39 a.m. EST.

The outpost's Expedition 29 crew is comprised of three Russians and two Americans and a Japanese astronaut.

The docking probe on the front of Soyuz has retracted, allowing the hooks and latches to close and form a seal between the capsule and station. Pressure and leak checks will be performed over the next orbit before the hatchway is opened for the crew to enter into the station at 2:55 a.m.

The docking occurred as the space station flew over the South Pacific at an altitude of 248 miles, several minutes ahead of schedule because stationkeeping wasn't required to verify alignment of the capsule.

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 8:30 p.m. EDT.

DOCKING. The Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft has docked to the Poisk module of the space station, delivering NASA's Dan Burbank and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin to the international outpost.

The new Expedition 28 residents join commander Mike Fossum, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov and Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa. They have been aboard the station since June, and will be returning to Earth next Monday night.

A steady, stable approach using Soyuz's automated rendezvous system continues.

Now inside 70 feet and closing.

About 95 feet left to go.

The docking mechanism has been powered up.

Now 118 feet, closing at 0.45 feet per second.

Now 245 feet, closing at 0.89 feet per second.

Now less than 360 feet to docking, closing at 1.3 mph.

The Russian flight control team has given approval and the final approach has commenced without any stationkeeping needed today.

The Soyuz completed the flyaround to align with the docking port about 600 feet away.

The capsule is completing a roll maneuver as part of the sequence to prepare for docking.

At present, the Soyuz and station are flying over the southeastern Pacific. The docking is set to occur over the southern tip of South America based on an on-time linkup.

About 755 feet separate the capsule and space station.

Soyuz is flying itself around the international outpost to get into the approach corridor leading to the Poisk module's docking port.

The Soyuz spacecraft is nearing the space station for docking a half-hour from now at 12:33 a.m. EST. You can watch live NASA Television coverage right here on this page.

The Soyuz spacecraft carrying three new residents for the space station is scheduled for docking tonight at 12:33 a.m. EST (0533 GMT).

The automated rendezvous sequence aboard the Russian-built crew transport capsule will begin about 10:11 p.m. EST to control the activities via autopilot.

The day's first key engine firing is planned for 10:29 p.m. and another impulse is expected around 10:49 p.m. EST, followed within minutes by activation of the Kurs rendezvous equipment on both the Soyuz and space station to guide the linkup.

The two spacecraft should be within 60 miles of each other by 11:12 p.m., closing to less than 10 miles by 11:39 p.m.

The television camera on the nose of Soyuz will be turned on at 11:46 p.m. to provide views of the docking.

A series of maneuvers between 11:55 p.m. and 12:03 a.m. will dramatically slow the Soyuz's closure rate, ultimately leading to the spacecraft beginning a flyaround of the space station to align with the Poisk module's docking port.

After a stationkeeping hold by the Soyuz to ensure all is in readiness for docking, the spacecraft will commence final approach at 12:24 a.m. for docking about 9 minutes later. Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov will be standing by to take over manual flying of the spacecraft if required.

The linkup should occur at 12:33 a.m. EST, a few minutes after orbital sunset.

The hatch opening and welcoming ceremony aboard the station is expected around 2:55 a.m. EST.

Watch this page for live updates and streaming video starting at 12 midnight EST (0500 GMT).

If you missed the launch, we've archived highlights of the countdown and blastoff for our Spaceflight Now+Plus subscribers in both standard and high definition video:

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: FULL EXPERIENCE FROM LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW DEPARTS SITE 254 FOR LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FAMILIES CHAT WITH CREW BEFORE LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW MEMBERS DON THEIR SOKOL SPACESUITS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH DAY TRADITIONS AT CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
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After exhaustive work to recover from a dramatic August launch failure, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut blasted off in blizzard-like conditions late Sunday on a delayed flight to the International Space Station, the program's first manned launching since the U.S. shuttle was retired.

Read our full story.

The official launch time was clocked by Mission Control as 11:14:03 p.m. EST.

Burbank, Shkaplerov and Ivanishin have arrived in orbit following launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Activities upcoming over the next few hours include opening the hatchway into the capsule's living compartment where the crew can remove their spacesuits, pressurization of the Soyuz propellant tanks and two orbit adjustment maneuvers. The trio of crewmates should begin their sleep period around 7 a.m. EST.

That pair of maneuvers early Monday will be followed by another one Tuesday to put Soyuz on the proper trajectory for Wednesday's rendezvous and docking with the space station.

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

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 around 12:33 a.m. EST on Wednesday.

T+plus 8 minutes, 45 seconds. The crew reports all remains in good shape aboard the spacecraft.

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.

T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. Pitch, yaw and roll are reported nominal.

T+plus 7 minutes. The four-nozzle engine of the upper stage continues to burn to inject the spacecraft into orbit.

T+plus 6 minutes. Soyuz's upper stage is firing to propel the spacecraft into a stable orbital perch around Earth.

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.

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

T+plus 3 minutes, 45 seconds. "Everything is okay onboard," the crew reports as the Soyuz rockets toward space.

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

T+plus 2 minutes, 10 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.

T+plus 60 seconds. Good performance one minute into this ascent for the Soyuz rocket and its three-person crew from the Kazakh launch base. Flight engineer Anatoly Ivanishin is strapped into the left-hand seat, Anton Shkaplerov is in the center seat for his role as the Soyuz commander and NASA astronaut Dan Burbank is in the right-hand seat.

T+plus 30 seconds. The Soyuz is heading on course for a rendezvous with the space station 49 hours from now. The station currently is flying about 258 miles above the southern tip of South America.

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Russian Soyuz rocket and the first launch of humans since retirement of the space shuttles.

T-minus 25 seconds. The first umbilical arm has separated from Soyuz. The second will retract in the next few seconds.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

T-minus 15 minutes and counting. The three-stage Soyuz rocket will insert the 15,800-pound space capsule into a 143 by 118 mile orbit, inclined 51.6 degrees to the equator.

T-minus 17 minutes. Now in the launch count, 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.

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The snow continues to fall as the countdown remains on target for liftoff. Temperatures at Baikonur are reported by NASA as 24 degrees F.

T-minus 24 minutes. The crew is completing leak checks of the Sokol launch spacesuits at this point in the countdown.

T-minus 25 minutes. Retraction of the two-piece service structure that has enclosed the Soyuz rocket during its stay at the launch pad is occurring as the towers rotate to a horizontal position. Several other umbilical arms connecting the rocket to the ground will be retracted at various times later in the countdown.

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.

Expedition 29 flight engineer Dan Burbank, a two-time space shuttle astronaut and retired captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, flew on shuttle Atlantis' STS-106 mission in 2000 and STS-115 in 2006. He will become the station's commander later this month when Expedition 30 begins. Read his full bio.

Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin is heading to the International Space Station for his first visit. He is a lieutenant colonel in the Russian air force and serves as flight engineer and Soyuz co-pilot. Read his full bio.

Anton Shkaplerov, commander of the Soyuz spacecraft during launch and landing, is making his initial spaceflight. He is a colonel in the Russian air force. Read his full bio.

T-minus 60 minutes and counting. NASA's Dan Burbank and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin were awakened about eight hours ago to begin launch day activities. They signed the doors at crew quarters and received religious blessings before boarding a bus that took the three crewmates the 25-mile distance into the cosmodrome. They donned their white Sokol launch and entry suits, met with officials from their respective space agencies and then headed for the pad. Crowds of well-wishers gathered to wave goodbye as the crew reached the rocket. An elevator took the trio up to the capsule-level of the tower to begin climbing aboard the cramped spacecraft.

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Video highlights of the Soyuz crew's launch day activities are beginning to air in the streaming video.

T-minus 2 hours. The Soyuz rocket is fueled, the crew has traveled to the launch pad and the countdown is progressing toward liftoff of the space station's Expedition 29 crew from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 11:14 p.m. EST.

As heavy snow falls at Baikonour, the crew has arrived the Baikonur launch pad to begin boarding the capsule and taking their assigned seats for blastoff about two-and-a-half hours from now.

The Russian State Commission met to review readiness of the Soyuz rocket for launch and granted official approval to proceed with fueling the booster.

"After hearing the reports of the supervisors, the State Commission has decided (the rocket is) ready for filling with propellant components and launch. In accordance with the schedule of prelaunch specialists of Russian Space Agency began operations on (rocket) fueling the "Soyuz-FG" propellants," the agency said in a statement.

After exhaustive work to recover from a dramatic August launch failure, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut was poised for blastoff late Sunday on a delayed flight to the International Space Station, the program's first manned launching since the U.S. shuttle was retired.

Read our full story.

A Russian-made Soyuz booster rocket and its crew transport capsule were transported by rail from the final assembly building to the launch pad Friday in preparation for Sunday night's trip to the International Space Station.

See the rollout photo gallery.

Liftoff of the three-man crew from the U.S. and Russia is scheduled for 11:14 p.m. EST (0414 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

NASA's Dan Burbank and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin are headed to the orbiting outpost for a 123-day mission as part of the Expeditions 29 and 30.

They'll join the trio already living up there -- commander Mike Fossum, cosmonaut Sergei Volkov and Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.

The Soyuz rocket completed its rollout Friday morning. Mounted horizontally on a railcar, the launcher journeyed along a winding route from the integration facility at Site 254 to the same historic pad used since the dawn of the space age.

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.

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: SOYUZ ROCKET ROLLED TO LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH VEHICLE IS HOISTED VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GANTRY ARMS WRAP AROUND SOYUZ PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: POST-ROLLOUT COMMENTS FROM NASA OFFICIALS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FINAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SOYUZ PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW TOURS BAIKONUR COSMODROME PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CHECKING OUT THE SOYUZ TMA-22 CAPSULE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CEREMONIAL ARRIVAL AT THE LAUNCH SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW'S DEPARTURE FROM TRAINING BASE PLAY | HI-DEF
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Following liftoff of the three-stage, liquid-fueled booster, the capsule will be inserted into a preliminary orbit within nine minutes. But it will take two days for the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft to the reach station. Docking to the Poisk module is scheduled for Wednesday around 12:33 a.m. EDT (0533 GMT).

Here is an overview the key events in the Soyuz's launch 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 and a video webcast during the final countdown and launch.

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