Denmark Sending First Astronaut Into Space
Mogensen will become the first Danish Astronaut in Space (ESA)
First Dane In Space
Today, Denmark is preparing to send their first astronaut into space on Wednesday. Andreas Mogensen will lift off at 0437 GMT (12:37 a.m. EDT) accompanied by Russian Sergei Volkov and Kazakh Aidyn Aimbetov on ESA’s 10-day “sprint” mission. Mogensen will be bringing with him a Danish-engineered exercise bike equipped with heart rate monitors and force testing pedals. This new biotechnology will give us feedback about the direct effects of exercise in the International Space Station’s microgravity environments. His mission will be short and is scheduled to last for approximately 10 days.
According to the European Space Agency, this has been his training schedule thus far:
Final training session: 12 Jul-18 Aug
6-7 Aug: Final Exams
10 Aug: Launch State Commission/Press Conference/ Red Square
18 Aug: Departure for Baikonur
19 Aug: First fit check
20 Aug: flag ceremony
26 Aug: Media Day / Encapsulation
27 Aug: Media Day / Encapsulation
28 Aug: Second fit check
31 Aug: Rollout
1 Sept: State Commission / Press Conference / Movie
Expedition 45 Crew (left to right): Aidyn Aimbetov, Kazcosmos; Sergei Volkov, Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos); Andreas Mogensen, ESA (NASA)
Mogensen is scheduled to launch tomorrow with colleagues Aidyn Aimbetov of the Kazakh Space Agency and Sergei Volkov of the Russian Federal Space Agency. They are expected to dock with the International Space Station early morning Friday, September 4th.
The Mission 45 crew will be greeted by Expedition 44 Commander Gennady Padalka of Roscosmos, as well as Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko and Mikhail Kornienko of Roscosmos, Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren of NASA, and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. NASA TV coverage of the hatch opening will begin at 4:45 a.m (CST US).
You can watch the launch live, with coverage starting at 03:35 GMT (10:38 AM CST, US), with launch scheduled for 04:38 GMT (11:38 AM CST, US).
