Russia launches film crew to International Space Station: In pics

Russia today launched the 66th expedition to the International Space Station on October 5. The space mission consists of three crew members -- a cosmonaut and two filmmakers. This is the third space mission this year to launch without trained cosmonauts, which includes Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic.

Russia sent the 66th long-term expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 5. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

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1/6 Russia sent the 66th long-term expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 5. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

The space mission will have Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and spaceflight participants Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild as the crewmembers. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

2/6 The space mission will have Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and spaceflight participants Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild as the crewmembers. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

Anton Shkaplerov is the Roscosmos cosmonaut launching on the Soyuz MS-19, Yulia Peresild and Klim Shipenko are the filmmakers who will be filming part of a movie called "Challenge" during their 12-day stay. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

3/6 Anton Shkaplerov is the Roscosmos cosmonaut launching on the Soyuz MS-19, Yulia Peresild and Klim Shipenko are the filmmakers who will be filming part of a movie called "Challenge" during their 12-day stay. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

The crew will be taken to the International Space Station by the Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

4/6 The crew will be taken to the International Space Station by the Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

The Soyuz-2.1a rocket is a three-stage medium class rocket. It is equipped with a new digital control system, common for all three stages, and a new digital radio telemetry system. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

5/6 The Soyuz-2.1a rocket is a three-stage medium class rocket. It is equipped with a new digital control system, common for all three stages, and a new digital radio telemetry system. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft will be docking on the International Space Station at 12:12 UTC. (Roscosmos/Twitter)

6/6 The Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft will be docking on the International Space Station at 12:12 UTC. (Roscosmos/Twitter)