European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Tim Peake is gearing up to blast off to the International Space Station tomorrow from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The former army helicopter and test pilot will join NASA 'naut Tim Kopra cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko atop the Soyuz-TMA19M for a scheduled departure from terra firma at 11:03 GMT. They're due to dock with the orbiting outpost at 17:23 GMT.

Cheer up, Yuri*: Tim Peake, Yuri Malenchenko and Tim Kopra

The Soyuz trundled to the launchpad yesterday, an operation not witnessed by the crew, as superstition dictates:

Not for 'naut eyes: The Soyuz trundles to the launchpad. Pic: ESA/S.Corvaja

Once aloft, the trio will, with current ISS residents Scott Kelly, Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov, form Expedition 46. During his six-month stay, Peake will carry out experiments as part of Europe's Principia mission – named in honour of Isaac Newton's Naturalis Principia Mathematica.

He's also planning "an intensive programme to inspire children during his stay in space", which includes firing up a couple of Raspberry Pis to run winning code from the schools Astro Pi competition.

The Pis' custom cases – milled from 6063 aerospace-grade aluminium – have become an object of desire for diminutive computer buffs, but are sadly not available for sale.

Not for mere mortals: The Astro Pi space case

Peake will also run the London Marathon on 24 April next year, albeit while strapped into the ISS's T2 Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, known as "Colbert" to its friends.

ESA will be covering the launch live tomorrow, and there are details here. Peak's mission blog is here, which contains his "last week on earth" schedule. Tomorrow's entries are nicely limited to:

1.Medical preparation for the launch.

2.Medical pre-launch activities.

3.Departure for the launch pad.

Ready to roll: The Soyuz on the Baikonur launchpad yesterday. Pic: ESA/S.Corvaja

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Bootnote

*Here are two more snaps of the crew, demonstrating Malenchenko's comparatively serious demeanour. He does almost crack a smile in the second one, though: