Then we had the formal pre-launch press conference. We got lots of softball questions that Fyodor mostly answered. Then it was dinnertime. Following dinner we had the traditional viewing of the Russian movie, the White Sun of the Desert. It is not entirely clear how it because a tradition to watch this particular movie. But, it is the current tradition fashion, so we watch. Actually, since I have seen this movie a number of times, as soon as the obligatory photo op was done to show the press that the crew was, in fact, watching the movie, I ducked out and spent a little bit of time with Andy.
Expedition 24/25 Crew
Wheelock, Walker, Yurchikhin
Woohoo!!! Launch Week!!!!!!! Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Monday I slept in a bit to try and do some sleep shifting. It is still not easy to do with the bright sun early in the morning. I had a very low key morning.
But, in the afternoon things really shifted gears. We had the formal commission in which all the Russian management from the various organizations (Head of the Russian Space Agency, Head of the Energia Company, Head of the ground processing of the rocket, Head of training at Star City, etc.) declare that we and the rocket are ready to go. Yea!
Then we had a smaller more informal gathering with the Russian management in which they wished us well. Afterwards we had a tea with the Head of the Russian Space Agency. This is something that normally happens on the day that we visit Red Square, but his schedule did not support it. I believe that he was out of town. So, they squeezed it in here today. It was actually quite nice. I liked it better than the one I attended as a back-up as it was not quite such public affairs event today. He chit chatted with us about the future of human spaceflight and which directions the Russians might be going. I think our countries are reasonably aligned in their plans and aspirations.
When he left I stayed up as late as possible in order to sleep as late as possible since tomorrow is a very long day. But, it is an exciting one.
Tuesday, for all intents and purposes, is our launch day. Even though we are technically launching Wednesday morning, once we are up on Tuesday, we are up through our launch and will not sleep again until after we do systems checkouts and a couple of maneuvers on-orbit. Tuesday, for all intents and purposes, is our launch day. Even though we are technically launching Wednesday morning, once we are up on Tuesday, we are up through our launch and will not sleep again until after we do systems checkouts and a couple of maneuvers on-orbit. Tuesday, for all intents and purposes, is our launch day. Even though we are technically launching Wednesday morning, once we are up on Tuesday, we are up through our launch and will not sleep again until after we do systems checkouts and a couple of maneuvers on-orbit.
My staying up late paid off and I was able to sleep in a bit this morning. I finally got up around 10:30 a.m. and started packing things up. I had nothing formal on the schedule in the morning so I got most of my packing done and worked on finishing up whatever adminy things I wanted to do before breakfast, which was scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Between breakfast and lunch, a very short span of just a couple hours, we also did not have anything formal on the schedule. So, I took a nap.
After lunch the show begins. We take showers and get cleaned up and get into our flight suits; we have a short meeting with management who wish us well; we sign the doors of the room we are staying in; we are blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest; and then we head out to the facility where we will begin the suit up process. As it is currently before lunch as I am typing, I cannot exactly tell you how things went. All I can so is list the schedule of how things are planned to go this afternoon and evening up through launch.
So, how do I feel about all this? A lot like you would expect - excitement coupled with a little apprehension. It is also still a little hard to believe that my launch day is actually here.
- Shower and medical checks L -8 hrs 30 mins
- Depart Cosmonaut Hotel (45 min drive) L -6 hrs
- Arrive Bldg 254 L -5 hrs 15 mins
- Medical Ops (25 mins) L -5 hrs 15 mins
- 40 minutes Free time L -4 hrs 50 mins
- Don Launch and Entry Suit "Sokol" / comm, checks,
pressure checks and medical parameter checks (1 hour) L -4 hrs 30 mins- Meeting with Directors and Delegation (30 mins) L-3 hrs 30 mins
- Crew Report to Head of Government Commission (5 mins) L -3 hrs
- Board bus for launch pad (20 min drive) L -2 hrs 55 mins
- Arrive at the launch pad L -2 hrs 35 mins
- Farewell at the elevator (5 mins) L -2 hrs 30 mins
- Ride elevator to Soyuz L -2 hrs 25 mins
- Evacuation bus to launch viewing site L -30 mins
- Launch L - 0 mins
It has been a very long road getting to this point, but a good one. I can only imagine how exciting it is going to be when the engines light and I am on my way to live in space.
Ad astra,
Shannon
