LIVE: Soyuz TMA-04M launch and docking - May 15/17, 2012

[anik]

It already happened in 1989, with spacecraft n°59 (Soyuz TM-9)

Yes, but there was PAO, not SA.

[Space Pete]

Some interesting comments from chief of piloted programs Alexei Krasnov via ITAR-TASS:

"The malfunction was found in the service elements of the descent capsule....but no decision was taken to delay a forthcoming launch.

Krasnov acknowledged that several days ago some problems really emerged....but the problems are related to a service element, rather than the descent capsule,

Krasnov did not rule out that “the schedule of piloted missions will be revised,” but he sees no tragedy in this. “There are program reserves to deal with the emerged problem,” he underlined.

“It is very good that upon the results of the tests we received critical remarks before the spaceship was brought to the Baikonur spaceport, because we have some time and possibilities to examine everything in detail,” Krasnov concluded.

Full story: http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/328095.html

[woods170]

Please change the date in the header of this topic to "TBD April/May"

I have changed it, but...

Soyuz TMA-03M with André Kuipers will also land later, it should land on June 16th in stead of May 16th

...who said this? It is not yet decided about specific launch and landing dates.

Concur. The shift in landing date for Andre Kuipers is pure speculation at this point.

[Litsas]

I've changed my last post, the speculative date(s) are now removed and I will post no more date(s) until the Russians/NASA are releasing a new ISS launch/landing schedule.

[Moe Grills]

More problems...

This may have a knock-on effect for the SpaceX C2/C3 mission too.

 Only downside to this is the delay in the flight.

  There is NEVER a downside with preserving human life.
Remember Soyuz 1?

If you're not old enough to remember, I'll point out that Soviet authorities took short cuts, forced their space agency to rush
the Soyuz 1 mission, the result being the tragic demise of  Kamarov.

I'm GLAD this mission is justifiably delayed. 

[woods170]

More problems...

This may have a knock-on effect for the SpaceX C2/C3 mission too.

 Only downside to this is the delay in the flight.

  There is NEVER a downside with preserving human life.
Remember Soyuz 1?

If you're not old enough to remember, I'll point out that Soviet authorities took short cuts, forced their space agency to rush
the Soyuz 1 mission, the result being the tragic demise of  Kamarov.

I'm GLAD this mission is justifiably delayed. 

I remember Soyuz 1 all to well. Fortunately, even the Soviets were able to learn from their own mistakes. That's why today no Soyuz flies without passing a very rigorous set of tests.

[Space Pete]

Some more info from Anatoly Zak:

"According to industry sources, a small breach in the descent module was discovered on January 23, during testing at a barometric chamber at the Check and Test Facility, KIS, of RKK Energia in Korolev. When specialists checked the interior of the descent module, they reportedly discovered that internal surfaces of the vehicle were distorted and bloated. Initial data showed that the descent module had been pressurized up to 3 atmospheres, instead of nominal 1.3-1.5 atmospheres, even though tests personnel had claimed that followed all standard procedures for during test. Such tests normally include raising of pressure in stages. The bad quality of material of the spacecraft, which had been manufactured in the summer of 2011, had also been suspected."

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2012.html#tma04m

[TJL]

Will the delays to TMA-4M and TMA-5M launches have a ripple effect on downstream launches or will the next two ISS increments be shortened?
Thanks.

[dsmillman]

Will the delays to TMA-4M and TMA-5M launches have a ripple effect on downstream launches or will the next two ISS increments be shortened?
Thanks.

If you look at how the Russians handled the delays in 2011, then it would be expected that the next two ISS increments will be shortened.  This assumes that the Soyuz's for the next two increments will be ready to launch on the current schedule.

[zaitcev]

Some more info from Anatoly Zak:

There is no doubt that Mr.Zak is paraphrazing this message to NK forums:
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=880373#880373

[Space Pete]

There is no doubt that Mr.Zak is paraphrazing this message to NK forums:
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=880373#880373

Yes, Mr. Zak himself said this:

"According to one posting on the web forum of the Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine by a specialist at Korolev"

[Targeteer]

In theory, Dan Burbank and crew could extend their stay because their launch was delayed and the Soyuz won't reach it's 6 month limit for a while--if there is a landing window available.

[Space Pete]

According to AFP, we're looking at a 45 day delay to the Soyuz TMA-22 landing and TMA-04M launch. There will also be an unspecified delay to the TMA-05M launch.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-russia-postpone-space_1.html

Using current dates + 45 days, here's how the schedule stacks up:

Soyuz TMA-22 landing:
-Previously: Mid March
-Now: Late April

Soyuz TMA-04M launch:
-Previously: Late March
-Now: Mid May

Soyuz TMA-05M launch:
-Previously: Late May
-Now: Late June - early/mid July

[patchfree]

According to A. Zak Soyuz M-04M mission will use the whole next spacecraft (# 705) and note only its descent module.

By February 1, the decision was made to use the entirely new Soyuz vehicle (No. 705 - next in the assembly pipeline) for the upcoming mission to the ISS. Plans to cannibalize the descent module from vehicle No. 705 and integrate it with a habitation module and an instrument section from the damaged vehicle No. 704 were dropped. These two undamaged components could still be reused for a future mission, sources said.

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/iss_soyuz_tma04m.html

[zaitcev]

Interfax reported that 2 workers died who worked at the testing facility where the capsule was overpressurized:
 http://www.interfax.ru/society/news.asp?id=228732
Ages unknown, cause of deaths unknown (supposedly stress build-up). I sure hope nobody worked in a pressurized environment and received diver's bends.