Preparation works for the manned launch are under way at Baikonur spaceport.
Yuzhny space centre operational crews started preparing equipment and facilities of the launching pad for the installation and future launch of Soyuz-FG rocket. According to the plan the rocket is to be delivered to the spaceport in the morning on March 23. The works according to 1st flight day schedule will also start on that date. The works of he launch day will be carried out at night from March 25 to March 26.
Soyuz-FG launch with Soyuz TMA-12M manned spacecraft is scheduled for 1.17 Moscow time, March 26.
Soyuz TMA-12M will bring 39/40 ISS mission crew to the station. Both main (Alexander Skvortsov( crew commander), Oleg Artemyev (flight engineer), Stephen Swanson (flight engineer) and back-up (Alexander Samokutyaev (crew commander), Elena Serova (flight engineer), Barry Wilmore (flight engineer) crews are having their preflight trainings at the present time.