MOSCOW, (Reuters) – A Russian crew consisting of two cosmonauts along with a movie director, and actress set out on Tuesday to film the first movie shot in space. It is the latest twist in the decades-old Russia-U.S. Space rivalry.

Soyuz MS-19 is scheduled to dock at 1212 GMT on the station. The spacecraft orbits Earth from an altitude around 220 miles (or 354 km).

Russian state media gave a wide and patriotic coverage of the events, including a countdown on Channel One as well as news anchors framing it as a breakthrough for Russia. The rest of the world will be closely watching.

This contrasts with Russia’s mixed fortunes in space, which have been plagued by delays and accidents over the past few years. Meanwhile, U.S.-based companies backed by wealthy businessmen have created new spaceships.

Elon Musk founded SpaceX in order to launch the first civilian crew aboard the rocket-and-capsule designed by SpaceX. The Russian 12-day mission will follow the Elon Musk’s successful businessman start.

Russian spacecraft are designed to be first in line for a Hollywood project, which was jointly announced this year by Tom Cruise (NASA and SpaceX).

Russia and America, also known as the Soviet Union and Russia, have fought fiercely for various milestones in space exploration. Russia launched the first satellite, while the United States sent the first human and female into space. NASA, however, was able to land the Moon landing.

The Russian film “The Challenge” is about a Russian doctor who, as Yulia Pesild portrays, has to go to space to save the life of a cosmonaut. In the movie, Cosmonaut crew members will appear.

Klim Shipenko (Director), whose 6′ 2″ (6 m) height makes it difficult to fly in small capsules, already stated that he looked forward to Mars-based sequels.

In keeping with the Soviet roots Russia has in space, the crew will be launch from Baikonur’s cosmodrome on the Kazakhstani steppes. This is a tribute to the former Soviet Republic in Central Asia. Russia leases the cosmodrome.

Russian officials claim that Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome (a more modern version) is many years away serving manned aircraft.