NASA Gives Blessing for Soyuz Rocket, Which is Ready for Takeoff [PHOTOS]

Photos of the Soyuz VS01 rocket transport have been released and show that the spacecraft is ready for takeoff.

The takeoff is scheduled for Oct. 20, Reuters reported.

The spacecraft will take two Galileo navigation satellites into orbit, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on their Web site.

This will be the first Soyuz launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, according to the ESA.

This Soyuz-2 version is the latest in the renowned family of Russian rockets that began the space race more than 50 years ago by carrying both the first satellite, Sputnik, and the first man, Yuri Gagarin, into space, the ESA said on their Web site.

Officials are confident the takeoff will be successful, despite the failed launch in Aug. of another Soyuz rocket that was bound for the International Space Station. An engine belonging to the unmanned rocket was turned off during an emergency shutdown and everything came crashing back to Earth, the Web site Spaceflight Now reported.

NASA's associate administrator for space operations Bill Gerstenmaier testified before a subcommittee of Congress' Committee on Science, Space and Technology on Wednesday.

NASA's confident that our Russian partners identified the most likely failure cause and have a sound return-to-flight plan, Gerstenmaier said, Florida Today reported.

Here are photos of the spacecraft's transport and launch position.