Riding the elevator slowly ascending, the crew for the Unity spacecraft's first manned flight was about to board the spacecraft 92 meters above the ground.
Feeling the increased gravity beneath their feet, the three crew members held hands tightly, their grip betraying an inner restlessness they could not silence.
The lead organization for the ISS, NACA, established the "Alliance TMA-17M Joint Command Center (referred to as Contact Commander)," with space agencies from all of the ISS member countries joining— as well as China's National Space Administration and New Yuan Aeronautics' propulsion.
The former of the latter two would provide joint telemetry and navigation, while the latter was responsible for the rescue operations.
Ma's spaceX wasn't idle either, standing by as a backup, the Dragon Spaceship was being rapidly refitted.
