Three new astronauts will start a trip up to the International Space Station tonight—and it all begins with a ride on the Soyuz spacecraft. Watch it launch live right here at 9:36 p.m. EDT.
The astronauts—NASA’s Kate Rubins, JAXA’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscomos’ Anatoly Ivanishin—will be making the trip as part of Expedition 49. They’ll be joining Expedition 48's three-person crew already aboard the ISS.
But it’s not just astronauts making the trip. There’s some new gear, including a genetic sequencer, in the cargo hold. Rubins will be using the device to conduct the first ever in-space DNA sequence, which NASA hopes will answer questions about the impact of spaceflight on the human body.
NASA will start coverage at 8:30 p.m. tonight, and the launch will take place at 9:36 p.m. You can watch along with us here, and see the whole timeline that the Soyuz will follow (assuming all goes to plan) below.
8:36 p.m. Launch vehicle control system prep; gyros active
8:40 p.m. NASA TV: Crew pre-launch activities
8:51 p.m. Pad service structure components lowered
8:52 p.m. Clamshell-like gantry service towers retracted
8:59 p.m. Suit leak checks; re-entry vehicle testing complete
9:02 p.m. Emergency escape system armed
9:21 p.m. Suit leak checks complete; escape system to auto
9:26 p.m. Gyros “uncaged” and recorders activated
9:29 p.m. Pre-launch operations complete
9:30 p.m. Final launch countdown operations to auto
Launch complex/vehicle systems ready
9:31 p.m. Commander’s controls active/helmets closed
Launch key inserted
9:32 p.m. Combustion chamber nitrogen purge
9:33 p.m. Booster propellant tank pressurization (drainback)
9:35 p.m. Ground propellant feed terminated
9:35:41 p.m. Vehicle to internal power
9:36:06 p.m. Auto sequence start
First umbilical tower separates
9:36:11 p.m. 3rd stage ground power umbilical separates
9:36:26 p.m. Second umbilical tower separates
9:36:29 p.m. Launch command issued
Central/side pod engines start
9:36:31 p.m. Engine turbopumps at flight speed
9:36:36 p.m. Engines at maximum thrust
9:36:41 p.m. LAUNCH (1 hr, 28 min after sunrise)
9:45:26 pm Orbital insertion
Samsung Unpacked—August 10
The next Samsung Unpacked event is happening on August 10 and with that, we know we will be seeing new announcements across their Galaxy lineup of products. If you’re already set on getting yourself the latest Galaxy Smartphone, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Buds, Samsung is offering Samsung credit to anyone who makes a reservation.