As practice, a rescue worker steps out of a capsule similiar to the one that is being used in the rescue. (Hugo Infante/Government of Chile)

UPDATED 6:00 p.m. PDT: Rescuers have begun a test run of the capsule that will bring the trapped miners to the surface. The rescue, which was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PDT has now been delayed due to technical difficulties.

Tuesday evening, Florencio Avalos is likely to become the first of 33 Chilean miners to ascend from a mine that has been the group's home for 68 days.

The team of engineers overseeing the rescue will use the two-hour period between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. be testing the shaft being used for the rescue.

When the present night in Chile turns to morning, Avalos is expected to become among the initial group of miners to see daylight for the first time in about 10 weeks.

The process of bringing the miners 2,300 feet up through a narrow shaft is expected to last until Thursday afternoon Pacific time. Each of the miners will get a chance to briefly meet with two family members before emergency responders take them to a hospital for two days of observation.

Two medics and two engineers will be lowered into the mine to evaluate the health of the miners and assist in the operation.

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera said the bravey of the miners has passed this "miracle possible."

Before the rescue began, Piñera deliever a broad speech in which he said Chile would be the first Latin American nation to defeat poverty.

Bolivian President Evo Morales is expected to arrive later during the resue. One of the miners, Carlos Mamani, is from Bolivia.

The miners have been living in filth and eating very little.

Follow The Guardian's live blog and live broadcast of the rescue here.

The Chilean's government's live photostream of the event is here.

Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.