Videolog-Launch Day

October 12, 2008. Launch Day for Expedition 18 to the International Space Station.
Our day began before dawn as we arrived at the Cosmonaut Hotel to witness the crew emerge from the hotel and walk to the bus that would eventually take them to the launch pad. Photographers, news reporters, and enthusiastic citizens lined the walkway awaiting their emergence.


Once the crew left on their bus, we boarded our own bus to follow them to the next stop where they would have their last flight suit check. Again the crew would remain behind glass while the spectators gathered on the other side. Many Russian military VIPs arrived for this event. Our group was given press passes to gain access to the suit check. We were able to witness the procedure along with the NASA families.



After the crew boarded the bus, they headed to the launch site. There they were strapped into the Soyuz and waited for launch. Our group headed to the launch pad as well. Unlike the gorgeous setting of the Kennedy Space Center, set amidst a wildlife sanctuary, launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome take off from the barren steppes of Kazakhstan. The facility was originally placed here for secrecy. After the end of the Cold War, that was no longer an issue. However, the flat landscape makes for perfect viewing as you will see in the following video of the launch.

Videolog of Expedition 18 Press Conference

The press conference, held at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, was attended by a crush of media. Luckily, the crew members, both prime and backup crew, were protected behind glass. Both the prime crew and backup crew were introduced.

Questions were asked in Russian. All American astronauts learn Russian when they train at Star City, so the questions were not translated into English. However, when the astronauts answered in English, their responses were translated into Russian. Many of the first questions went to space participant Richard Garriott. Here is a video clip of Garriott's answer to the question, "What are some of the most important things you are taking to space?"


The next question was for Commander Mike Finke regarding the purpose of the Expedition 18 mission. Then there was a funny one about whether or not Mike had appeared in the season finale of Star Trek. To see the answers, watch below:


Following that came a question for Richard Garriot. He was asked how comfortable he anticipated the living conditions aboard the ISS would be, compared to his extremely comfortable life style at home in Texas. He was very complimentary of the amenities aboard the International Space Station. Listen below:

The last query regarded politics in space. Here is Mike Finke's response:

Russian Trip Day #6 Press Conference

We began the day by attending the press conference for Expedition 18. Held at the Cosmonaut Hotel, it was jam packed with the international media, Russian dignitaries, crew families and friends, and us lucky few who were traveling with Mir Corporation's "Inside the Russian Space Program." The cosmonauts and astronauts spend their last two weeks before their launch living at the Cosmonaut Hotel. They are in quarantine, and cannot see their family or friends unless they are separated by glass. The only people they have close contact with are the medical personnel who monitor their health. During the press conference, where the media is invited to ask them questions about their upcoming launch and mission to the International Space Station, the prime crew and the backup crew sit in a room behind glass. Photographers crowd up close to the glass, and those reporters wanting to ask questions step up to a microphone which relays the question to the crew inside the glass room. Interestingly, most of the questions were asked of American space participant Richard Garriott, who is paying to fly to the ISS. People asked him to describe the projects he intended to accomplish while in space.






Garriott, son of former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, plans to complete science experiments and participate in webcasts with American schools during his 10 day stay in space. To hear his first audio downlink from space,
click here. Garriott is also planning some art activities to do in microgravity. He planned those with his mother, who is an artist. To view photos of Richard creating his art in space,
click here. Questions directed at Garriott also asked whether or not he was nervous about the launch. He replied that he has complete confidence in the Russian technology and the Soyuz rocket. He said the Russians have launched rockets successfully from the Yuri Gagarin launch pad for decades and that after spending a year training at both Star City and Baikonur Cosmodrome, he remains extremely impressed with Russian space technology. Questions for Mike Fincke, Expedition 18 commander, included inquiries about the purpose of the mission regarding both the continuation of construction of the ISS and the science on board. At the end of the press conference, the crew spoke of their dedication to the mission, their faith in space technology, and their respect for one another. They ended the press conference with a great group shot.









After the conference, our group set out for a visit to the various monuments scattered around the town of Baikonur, all dedicated to the exploration of space. Here you can see space participant Greg Olsen in front of the gigantic statue of Yuri Gagarin. At the next stop, we got up close to a Soyuz rocket just like the one that we watched on its way to the launch pad for the Expedition 18 flight. It is incredible to be this close and imagine the explosive power of this rocket. And tomorrow, that power will carry three men into space!