Getting to the Soyuz spacecraft

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen woke up at 1:20 local time at night, eight hours before launch. He passed his last medical procedures and final medical check and received an official call for medical flight readiness.

A new bus took commander Sergei Volkov, Andreas and Aidyn Aimbetov at 05:00 local time to the Baikonur cosmodrome, building 254 to don their Sokol spacesuits they will wear in the Soyuz spacecraft during launch.

Getting in the bus to launchpad. Credits: ESA

The suits are tested under pressure for any leaks for a last time before launch.

Before leak test. Standing to the right is Andreas’s backup ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet. Credits: ESA

Then a final talk with officials and a salute to the State Commission on the way to the launchpad at 7:40 local time.

Talking to officials before launch. Credits: ESA

The crew waved goodbye and entered their Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft at around 08:00 local time. They had a 2.5 hour wait ahead of them before launch at 10:47 local time. During this time they will check the spacecraft systems and prepare for launch.

Last wave goodbye. Credits: Roscosmos