Phase one of fueling is complete . Over the past two days, the Airbus CPS team from Stevenage along with a minimal ground support crew have successfully loaded the E9B SC with NTO. Next up is reconfiguration and preparation of Hall 103A so that we can start MMH loading later this week. 

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Over the past week there has been much activity and a plethora of operations on our E9B launch campaign.  The SC has been in standalone operations running through a succession of tests with the results being checked, verified and checked again by the Airbus specialists in the Hall 103A on one side of the building.  KhSC is meanwhile on the other side of the building in Hall 101 hard at work ensuring that the Breeze M is on point with its series of tests, verifications and checks.  KhSC specialist teams are also diligently working on the Payload Adapter which now stands ready for Joint Operations, and finalizing the Payload Fairing operations.  The closing out and completion of these operations means collectively we are all moving closer to Joint Operations.

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Full steam ahead!  Our propellants and gases finally arrived at 92A50 via train in the still of a clear, crisp winter’s night! Due to the hazardous nature of transferring the propellants/gases from the train via forklift, thru 3 different processing halls to reach the conditioning rooms, there was a small and concise welcoming team who ensured that the transfer went off without a hitch.  Flawless job team!

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Thanksgiving…traditionally and historically, an American holiday spent with family, friends, and loved ones giving Thanks for all that one has been blessed with in life no matter how big or small it may be.

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Starts to campaigns are always a flurry of activity from getting acquainted to the hotels, figuring out the transportation to and from 92A50, overcoming jet-lag due to time zone changes and making sure that we are all on-point for the major milestones that occur soon after our arrival.  Our initial operation is a fitcheck that occurs between the SCM’s SC and KhSC Adapter System before the hardware and teams continue with respective stand-alone operations in Hall 101 and H103A.

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The Team’s all here! After a few fits and starts to their day of travel from Moscow to Baikonur (traffic can be most convoluted in Moscow), our weary colleagues finally arrived at Area 95 to enthusiastic greetings from their fellow mission team members.   After a prompt check-in and swiftly dropping off bags in their hotel rooms, team members sat down to share a meal together, some catching up with friends from previous missions of years gone by and others being introduced for the first time.  No matter what way you look at it, sharing a meal is a wonderful way to bring people together!

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Baikonur….we have an E9B SC!  SC arrival is a momentous launch campaign milestone, one that truly gets our launch campaign revved up and into full swing.

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A light dusting of snow blanketed the city of Moscow as the team kicked off our journey to Baikonur for the E9B launch campaign.  Luggage stowed, the team clambered aboard our bus and headed to Vnukovo Airport to catch our charter.

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