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New Crew Launching Today Live on NASA TV

Expedition 53-54 Crew Members
The Expedition 53-54 crew members wave goodbye before entering their Soyuz MS-06 spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 53-54 Flight Engineers Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba of NASA and Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz MS-06. Their journey to the station will begin with a lift off at 5:17 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 12 (3:17 a.m. Baikonur time on Sept. 13). Live launch coverage will begin at 4:15 p.m. EDT on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

The three will join Expedition 53 Commander Randy Bresnik of NASA and Flight Engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy of Roscosmos and Paolo Nespoli of the ESA (European Space Agency). The Expedition 53 crew members will contribute to more than 250 experiments in fields such as biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development.

Below is the crew’s launch timeline in EDT:

EDT L-Hr/M/Sec Event

12:47:02pm 4:30 Crew suit up
1:12:02pm 4:05 Booster loaded with liquid Oxygen
1:47:02pm 3:30 Crew meets family members on other side of the glass
2:12:02pm 3:05 First and second stage oxygen fueling complete
2:17:02pm 3:00 Crew walkout from 254 and boards bus for the launch pad
2:22:02pm 2:55 Crew departs for launch pad (Site 1)
2:42:02pm 2:35 Crew arrives at launch pad (Site 1)
2:52:02pm 2:25 Crew boards Soyuz; strapped in to the Descent module
3:42:02pm 1:35 Descent module hardware tested
3:57:02pm 1:20 Hatch closed; leak checks begin
4:15:00pm 1:02:02 NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE BEGINS
4:17:02pm 1:00 Launch vehicle control system prep; gyro activation
4:30:00pm :47:02 NASA TV: Crew pre-launch activities played (B-roll)
4:32:02pm :45 Pad service structure components lowered
4:33:02pm :44 Clamshell gantry service towers retracted
4:40:02pm :37 Suit leak checks begin; descent module testing complete
4:43:02pm :34 Emergency escape system armed
5:02:02pm :15 Suit leak checks complete; escape system to auto
5:07:02pm :10 Gyros in flight readiness and recorders activated
5:10:02pm :07 Pre-launch operations complete
5:11:02pm :06 Launch countdown operations to auto; vehicle ready
5:11:54pm :05:08 The ISS flies directly over the Baikonur Cosmodrome
5:12:02pm :05 Commander’s controls activated
5:13:02pm :04 Combustion chamber nitrogen purge
5:14:02pm :03 Propellant drainback
5:14:17pm :02:45 Booster propellant tank pressurization
5:15:32pm :01:30 Ground propellant feed terminated
5:16:02pm :01:00 Vehicle to internal power
5:16:27pm :00:35 First umbilical tower separates
Auto sequence start
5:16:32pm :00:30 Ground umbilical to third stage disconnected
5:16:47pm :00:15 Second umbilical tower separates
5:16:50pm :00:12 Launch command issued
Engine Start Sequence Begins
5:16:52pm :00:10 Engine turbopumps at flight speed
5:16:57pm :00:05 Engines at maximum thrust
5:17:02pm :00:00 LAUNCH OF SOYUZ MS-05 TO THE ISS
5:25:47pm +8:45 THIRD STAGE SHUTDOWN; ORBITAL INSERTION

The next update will be after the crew safely reaches orbit.

For launch coverage and more information about the mission, visit: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/. Get breaking news, images and features from the station on Instagram at: @iss and on Twitter @Space_Station and @ISS_Research.

Get weekly video highlights at: http://jscfeatures.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/