Yesterday was a long and exciting day here in Baikonur.  After receiving the OK last night from the State Commission it was time to send the Nimiq 6 ILV on its trip to Launch Pad 24.

It is the Russian tradition for the locomotive to start its journey at 6:30 a.m. local time. Thus, we were all out to see the convoy off at 6:30 that morning for the 2 and a half-hour journey to its new home on pad 24.  At about 9 a.m. everyone who wanted to attend was permitted on the pad deck to watch the incredible sight of the assembled ILV being rolled horizontally into position.  Then the ILV was hydraulically rotated to its vertical launch position.  This process is called verticalization.  Talk about a photo opportunity!

The anticipation continues to build as we started the official countdown schedule that will bring us to launch day!