Transit Day 9 – Final Preps for Launch Site Arrival

Following yesterday’s activities the team was back to work making final plans for arrival to the launch site early Friday morning.  All segments spent the day finalizing their documentation, completing all necessary preparation work required to be done during transit and one of the most challenging tasks working the crew transfer lists.  During transit and prior to ballast down operations there is a limit of 70 persons on the LP.  Once the LP has ballasted down 19 meters, the crew limit may be increased to 95 persons.  As with most of Sea Launch’s operations logistics plays a key role in accommodating every segments work schedules.  Galia Kaplan, ELUS Transportation Coordination Officer (TCO), is responsible for finalizing the list and managing the logistics of the crew transfer. Galia works closely with Jason McLaughlin the Payload Integration Manager (PIM), to ensure that our customer needs are addressed. This is the one true variables between missions.  Each spacecraft’s operations schedule is slightly different and requires us to effectively manage the logistics of crew transfer in order to accommodate the necessary work flows. Galia also works closely with the Rocket Segment management from RSC Energia; Deputy Mission Director (DMD), Igor Bogachev, Rocket Segment Operations Manager (RSOM), Alexy Khvatov, and Operations Team Coordinator, Maxim Gorshkov, as well as the marine crew from both vessels including the ACS Safety officer, Vadym Prokhorenko and LP Safety officer, Cleaton Duguid.  Once the crew transfer lists are completed we know we are ready for launch site operations as this is typically the final piece of documentation that is completed.  Maxim Gorshkov confirmed at the 19:00 MD meeting that all crew transfer lists have been coordinated and agreed too… So we are ready for launch site arrival!