A couple of days ago the crew visited their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft and the Soyuz rocket for a second and final check before the launch. Suprisingly, it is just a few days before the launch and the rocket is still in several pieces, as shown in this series of photos posted on twitter by NASA astronaut Don Pettit:

 

The inspection gives the crew the chance to get close the rocket engines that will soon propel them into space at 28 000 km/h.

With the rocket engines that will propel their spacecraft into space

With the rocket engines that will propel their spacecraft into space

Credit: ESA/A.Kuipers

Later the same day, encapsulated inside the rocket fairing, the spacecraft was transported by train to the hall where the rocket will be assembled. Early on Monday morning the rocket will be taken by train to the launch platform where it will be erected into the upright position, ready for launch.

Spacecraft is transported to assembly hall

Spacecraft is transported to assembly hall

Image credit: RSC Energia (more photos)