In the morning of March 10, at the site № 254 of the Baikonur cosmodrome in accordance with the pre-launch preparation plan, the main crew (Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch) and the back-up crew (Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan) of the 59 / 60th long expedition to the ISS began a control checkup inspection of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft. After the introductory briefing, the cosmonauts and astronauts checked the composition and placement of cargo and equipment in the descent vehicle and the living compartment. According to the pre-launch tradition, the main and backup crews of the ISS-59/60 also visited the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum, famous for its unique collection of exhibits.

The specialists of the RSC "Energia" at the Baikonur cosmodrome continue to work on the preparation for the flight of the space rocket with the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft to the International Space Station. In accordance with the preparation schedule on March 6, the author's inspection of the ship was performed. In addition, technological operations of the head fairing rolling of the "Soyuz-FG" rocket were performed. Earlier, on March 4, the spacecraft was docked with the transfer compartment of the launch vehicle.

At Baikonur, preparations continue for the planned on March 14 flight of a space rocket with the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft is being prepared for launch under the ISS program in the assembly and test facility of the Baikonur cosmodrome, where the ship was delivered on Saturday, March 2. On March 4, in accordance with the schedule of prelaunch works, the specialists of the RSC "Energia" completed a set of technological operations for the assembly of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft with the transfer compartment of the launch vehicle. The launch of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft with the crew of the next long expedition to the ISS is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from site № 1 (Gagarinsky Start) of the Baikonur cosmodrome.

At the Baikonur cosmodrome, RSC Energia specialists completed operations to refuel the Soyuz MS-12 transport manned vehicle with fuel components…

The first in the history private manned spacecraft "Crew Dragon", produced by the American company "SpaceX", made docking with the International Space Station (ISS)., the ISS’s Twitter account reports on Sunday, March 3. "Crew Dragon", or "Dragon-2", is a private spacecraft of the American company "SpaceX", developed by order of NASA, designed to deliver astronauts to the ISS and return to Earth. It was put into orbit in test mode on March 2 by the "Falcon 9" launch vehicle.

Today, at the Baikonur cosmodrome, in front of the "Cosmonaut" Hotel, a ceremony was held to raise the flags of countries, participating in the "Soyuz MS-12" international launch to the International Space Station. The traditional event, which symbolizes the official start of the final stage of crew preparation for a launch, was attended by the main and backup crews of the 59 / 60th long expedition to the ISS. Roskosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Alexander Skvortsov raised the Russian flag, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch - the USA flag, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan - the flag of Kazakhstan.

The final stage of preparation of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft for the flight to the International Space Station (ISS) began at the Baikonur cosmodrome. In accordance with the training schedule, the cosmonauts and astronauts tried the flight suits, tested them for tightness, and took seats in their ship. The main crew of the ISS-59/60 includes Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch. Their backups are Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan. The launch of the "Soyuz-FG" carrier rocket with "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft to the International Space Station is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from the Baikonur cosmodrome.

On February 26, 2019, the main and backup crews of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft arrived at the Baikonur cosmodrome to complete preparations for the flight. Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch are in the main crew of the ISS-59/60. Their backups are Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan. The launch of the "Soyuz-FG" launch vehicle with "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from the Baikonur cosmodrome.

In accordance with the flight program of the International Space Station (ISS), on February 26, 2019, a planned correction of the ISS orbit was performed. The working time of the engine system was 434 seconds. The purpose of the correction was the formation of ballistic conditions for launching and docking of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft.

Having successfully passed the exams on manual control of transport manned and cargo spaceships, the main crew of the ISS this Monday continued to pass the "space" exams. The working week of "Soyuz MS-12" commander Alexey Ovchinin and flight engineer Nick Hague began with the manual-controlled descent exam on the TC-7 simulator, based on the CF-7 centrifuge base. Taking into account that Alexey and Nick passed such exam on the Soyuz spacecraft several months ago as part of "Soyuz MS-10" crew training, the high level of their knowledge and skills during the training was rated by the commission as “excellent”. The examination week of the main crew of the ISS continued with a test of knowledge of the Russian segment of the International Space Station. The two-week training sessions for the main crew of the ISS were the final training for the complex exams, which are to be held by Alexey Ovchinin, Nick Hague and Christina Koch after one week.