From the Kazakh airport, three astronauts set sail on April 9 for a six-hour voyage to the International Space Station.
They are replacing another crew on board deployed there before the coronavirus pandemic on Earth.
Astronaut Jessica Meir was among those who will return home.
"It's very surprising for all of us to see this situation down on our planet. We can tell you that the earth still looks as stunning as ever. It will certainly be very difficult for me not to be able to embrace some of my family members and friends, ”she said.
Fear of COVID-19 kept the usual cheering crowds away, but NASA International Space Station program manager Kirk Shireman says the launch last week should have taken place with or without the presence of an audience.
"A place in the universe, I would say, that you can study the things we are studying there. If we didn’t do anything for six months, it would be a waste of time. It's one of those opportunities to come to life once and for all, and we sincerely need to continue flying the International Space Station to keep us safe here on the planet. "
The giant flying vehicle needs operators not to crash to the ground. Shireman says the types of research on his board can only be done in space.
"The coldest place in the universe is at the International Space Station, where we are exploring the state of matter in a billion degrees above the absolute zero."
Chris Cassidy, one of the astronauts who recently arrived at the International Space Station, said it was strange to leave for space without hearing cheers from a group of people.
Colleagues of astronaut Cassidy returning to Earth will receive the same quiet welcome. Returning astronauts will land in Kazakhstan before returning to Houston.
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