Prime (right) and backup crew (left). Credits: ESA

Prime (right) and backup crew (left). Credits: ESA

Blog entry from ESA’s mission director Roland Luettgens from the Columbus Control Centre:

The preparation of the launch of the Soyuz 49S is in full swing.

The ground teams have successfully conducted all the so called Readiness Reviews and declared readiness for the launch and mission of Thomas.

Last week we had our final talk with Thomas and the control-centre teams. We went over the plan of his first few days of activities after his arrival at the International Space Station.

I asked Thomas “Are you ready to go?“, he immediately replied “I cannot wait to start working on the International Space Station!”.

Thomas, Oleg and Peggy. Credits: ESA

Thomas, Oleg and Peggy. Credits: ESA

The crew is in Baikonur and preparing the last details of the launch. They also have the opportunity to see their family before they leave Earth for several months to work on the Space Station.

The crew went to the building where the rocket is located that will propel the crew in two days to their destination.

It is is always impressing to see these powerful machines that carry humans into orbit.

The launch is planned for 17 November at 20:20 GMT and the docking to the Space Station will occur two days later 19 November after the Soyuz flies 34 times around Earth.

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson will become the first woman to command the Space Station twice. The crew is planned to return Spring 2017.

The next report from the Columbus Control Centre will detail the launch sequence and provide details about their flight to the Station.

Thomas we are ready to go…..