After 8 minutes and 40 seconds, the last boosters separate and the crew has officially reached Earth orbit. The first task on reaching space is for the crew to call down to Earth with a list of parameters on the health of the Soyuz spacecraft – air pressure, temperatures etc.

And the second operation? – once the crew have checked the air pressure inside the orbital module they open the hatch and the next (and very important) task is to turn on the toilet!