Two astronauts launch into space today after the failure of a rocket last year

This afternoon, three astronauts are expected to board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from Kazakhstan bound for the International Space Station. For two of the three crew members, this is a second chance, after the catastrophic malfunction of a rocket that interrupted their last flight into space.

NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Nick Hague, as well as Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, participate in the launch of the trio. The Hague and Ovinchin had to go to the International Space Station on October 11, with the same version of the Russian Soyuz vehicle they are taking today. But just two and a half minutes into the flight, the Soyuz rocket that fired the two astronauts was destroyed when a side-to-side hit the rocket.

Fortunately, the Soyuz capsule carrying Hague and Ovchinine quickly began its emergency abortion sequence and separated from the rotting rocket about 31 miles high. He then did what is called a ballistic descent, landing much steeper than your average round trip from space. After firing a few more G's, Hague and Ovchinin landed safely on Earth, using the parachutes of the Soyuz capsule.

Photo of Bill Ingalls / NASA

After their trip to the station was cut short, NASA and the Russian state space company Roscosmos decided to give the two tractors a second chance and assigned them to today 's flight with Koch. The failed Soyuz model also resumed flying quickly a month later and even sent a crew of three to the space station safely in December.

Koch, Hague and Ovchinin are expected to live on the chain until six months before returning this summer. It will be the first time in orbit for Koch and Hague (not counting its botched flight) and the second time for Ovchinin (not counting the flight for October). They will join NASA astronaut Anne McClain, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, who has been living on the ISS for more than three months. According to NASA, Koch and McClain are expected to make the first exit in the women's space at the end of March. The upgrading of the space station's power channels will be completed, according to NASA.

Today's launch is scheduled at 3:14 pm (ET) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Once the Soyuz has reached its orbit, the crew will remain there about six hours before going to the ISS and docking at the ISS at 21:07. NASA plans to cover each event, with a launch cover starting at 2:00 pm ET and a mooring cover starting at 8:45 pm ET. Then, around 22:30, the crew will open the door and enter the ISS. Come back this afternoon to see Hague and Ovchinin try the second round.