Russia’s Workhorse Soyuz Space Taxi Gets a Makeover

(via Popular Mechanics) When a fresh crew blasts off toward the International Space Station this week, their first task will be to test a new version of the Soyuz spacecraft. Russian pilot Anatoly Ivanishin, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, and Japanese flight engineer Takuya Onishi will take a two-day test drive aboard the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft before docking at the space station.  Popular Mechanics has the rundown on the upgraded Soyuz vehicle – a dependable 50 year old space workhorse.