NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Russian Launchers - Soyuz, Progress and Uncrewed => Topic started by: jacqmans on 11/13/2015 07:16 am
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ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet (FR) is assigned to fly on the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft to the International Space Station, scheduled for launch in November 2016. His crew mates will be cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky of Roscosmos and Peggy Whitson of NASA.
His mission is called 'proxima'. Thomas will be the 10th astronaut from France to head into space and his mission name continues the French astronaut tradition of referring to stars and constellations. The name was chosen from over 1300 entries to ESA’s competition earlier this year.
The winning name was provided by 13-year-old Samuel Planas from Toulouse, France. “Proxima is the closest star to our Sun and is the most logical first destination for a voyage beyond our Solar System,” explains Samuel. “Proxima also refers to how human spaceflight is close to people on Earth.” The logo continues the exploration theme, with star trails evoking future space travel and exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. Two stylised planets can represent our Earth and Moon or the Moon and Mars.
The ‘x’ in Proxima is centred in the middle of the patch to signify the star Proxima Centauri. It also refers to the unknown, as well as Thomas being the tenth French space voyager. The three coloured vertical lines form an outline of the International Space Station and also represent Earth, the Moon and Mars, as well as hinting at the French national flag.
The patch was designed by Thomas Pesquet and Karen Oldenburg.
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Thomas Pesquet: "Last spacesuit fit check for my upcomming November flight. fits like a glove! Here assuming our launch and landing position in the Soyuz".
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The Soyuz MS-03 crew patch uses the classical shield shape; the origin of this type of emblem. The flags of the countries represented on this international space mission, the name of the spacecraft and the Roscosmos logo crown the design. Three animals symbolize each of the crewmembers occupying three quandrants, while the fourth one houses the spaceship, depicted flying towards the ISS's docking target. The eagle is taken from the state seal of Iowa, birth state of US crewmember Whitson, the Zubr buffalo from Belorussia represents the Russian commander's origins and the lion is a symbol used in the emlem of Haute Normandie, home region of French astronaut Pesquet . Behind the crew's family names, a mountain in the Caucasus mountains is shown: Kazbek, which is the callsign for the crew of Soyuz MS-03. Patch designed by Luc van den Abeelen.
Copyright Roscosmos/spacepatches.nl
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro ·
Oleg Novitskiy, my Russian commander, watching footage of the last #Soyuz launch in VR360. Exciting!
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Call for Media: Thomas Pesquet calls in from Houston
During a break in his training schedule, French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet will be available at a press conference in Paris for remote media interviews on Tuesday, 30 August.
Thomas is currently training at Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, for his upcoming mission to the International Space Station.
Media are invited to attend the one-hour event at the French space agency CNES headquarters starting at 13:45.
Thomas's mission is ESA's ninth long-duration mission to the Space Station. It will start in November with the launch of his Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Together with NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian cosmonaut
Oleg Novitskiy, Thomas will embark on his six-month stay in space.
Accreditation
To register for the press conference, please email: [email protected]
Please present yourself at CNES 30 minutes before the start of the press conference.
Material for broadcasters
ESA TV will make the satellite relay available on satellite for broadcasters. For more information, consult ESA TV's website: http://www.esa.int/esatv/Television
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For history reason:
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro
Practicing Judo with my spacesuit... it's actually better than me! ;)
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro
L-55: hoping to get good pics from ISS. Learning the ropes w/ instructors @NASA_Johnson !
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-akLBTTBf1U
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ESA Operations @esaoperations
Final #Soyuz exams prepare @Thom_astro @AstroPeggy & Oleg for launch to @Space_Station in November. #MissionProxima
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ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow, Russia, October 2016.
Thomas is currently training for his Proxima mission to the International Space Station, set for launch in November 2016. He will spend six months living and working on the Station at part of Expeditions 49 and 50.
Thomas will be launched into space together with cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and and Peggy Whitson.
Thomas is keen on sharing his experience in the run up to launch and his adventure in space – follow him and the mission via thomaspesquet.esa.int.
Credit: ESA-Stephane Corvaja, 2016
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http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3619
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October 20, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY M16-124
NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson Available for Interviews Before Space Station Launch
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson will be available for live satellite interviews from the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, on Thursday, Oct. 27, before her launch to the International Space Station. She will answer questions about her upcoming mission aboard the world-class orbiting laboratory from 7-8 a.m. EDT, airing live on NASA Television and streaming on the agency’s website.
Whitson, who considers Beaconsfield, Iowa, her hometown, is in Russia for final preparations prior to her launch on Nov. 15, U.S. time. The interviews will be preceded at 6:30 a.m. by 30 minutes of video clips highlighting her training.
To schedule an interview, media must contact Karen Svetaka at 281-483-8684 or [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Media participating in the live shots must tune to NTV-3. Satellite tuning information is available at:
http://go.nasa.gov/1pOWUhR
Whitson will launch to the space station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, along with her Expedition 50/51 crewmates, cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and astronaut Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency).
During her stay in space, Whitson will become the first woman to have commanded the space station twice. During Expedition 16 in 2007, she became the first woman ever to command the station. That flight and her first mission to the space station, as a flight engineer for Expedition 5 in 2002, give her a current total of 377 days in space.
Whitson and her crewmates also will perform some 250 research investigations and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth. Among the experiments is Lighting Effects, which will investigate the impact of a new solid-state, light-emitting diode (LED) system on the crew’s circadian rhythms, sleep and cognitive performance. The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) experiment is scheduled to arrive at the station during the crew’s stay and will examine the physics, nature and dynamics of neutron stars.
Whitson is scheduled to return to Earth with Novitskiy and Pesquet in May.
Check out the latest NASA TV schedule and video streaming information at:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
Follow Whitson on social media at:
http://twitter.com/astropeggy
http://astropeggy.tumblr.com
http://www.facebook.com/NASAastronautPeggyWhitson
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro ·
L-24: Practising a #Soyuz docking with @Space_Station. This is the relaxed version with jeans, but still a very focused look!
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The launch is postponed to November 18, at 23:20 Moscow time (20:20 UTC).
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And what's the reason ?
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https://youtu.be/qrNeJnW91Ls
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qam7K5H6Rqo
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https://youtu.be/e50jYM0Wyx4
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The launch is postponed to November 18, at 23:20 Moscow time (20:20 UTC).
Hmm.....on NK the launch date is written as November 17 (docking at ~22:02 UTC on the 19th). ;)
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Launch confirmed by RKK Energuia: Nov. 17 - 20:20 UTC. No reason given for the postponement of 24 hours.
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No reason given for the postponement of 24 hours
Orbital ballistics: two-days rendezvous instead of four-orbit.
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No reason given for the postponement of 24 hours
Orbital ballistics: two-days rendezvous instead of four-orbit.
I guess that means the tests of Soyuz-MS isn't quite finished yet?
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I guess that means the tests of Soyuz-MS isn't quite finished yet?
It means that tests finished, but ground is not ready to provide the four-orbit rendezvous for Soyuz MS.
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I guess that means the tests of Soyuz-MS isn't quite finished yet?
It means that tests finished, but ground is not ready to provide the four-orbit rendezvous for Soyuz MS.
Ah yes, I have forgotten about this:
The main reason for the 34-orbit flight to the ISS is that Klion-R command station in Vostochnyi is not yet operational. This station is used for EKTS telecommand system, and is necessary to upload corrections' parameters to the spaceship, allowing for a 4-orbit rendez-vous.
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I guess that means the tests of Soyuz-MS isn't quite finished yet?
It means that tests finished, but ground is not ready to provide the four-orbit rendezvous for Soyuz MS.
Ah yes, I have forgotten about this:
The main reason for the 34-orbit flight to the ISS is that Klion-R command station in Vostochnyi is not yet operational. This station is used for EKTS telecommand system, and is necessary to upload corrections' parameters to the spaceship, allowing for a 4-orbit rendez-vous.
When will the Klion-R command station at Vostochniy be operational, to allow a return to 4-orbit rendezvous?
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro
L-18: Three astronauts, three languages, Oleg's, @AstroPeggy's and my text in Gagarin's memorial book
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We are still missing the official crew portraits in hi res.
Is there someone out with good connections to Roscosmos?
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crew is in baikonour
http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/photo_11-01.html
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http://www.roscosmos.ru/22836/
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https://youtu.be/fIIl0y25mvU
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Peggy Whitson @AstroPeggy
We are getting ready to depart to Baikonur. Looking forward to the next ride even more...the one on the rocket!!
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Thank you very much to Rob Navias for sending.
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The crews TPK "Soyuz MS-03" held a training session on the ship
02/11/2016
The members of the main and backup crews of manned spacecraft (TPC) «Soyuz MS-03" started final training at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which include the testing of skills on the ground in the vehicle.
Earlier, a meeting of the Technical Guide, where a decision on filling the "Soyuz MS-03" propellant components and compressed gases.
Entered in the main crew of the ISS-50/51 Roskosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, ESA astronaut Thomas Sands and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson tried on spacesuits "Sokol-KV" and then test them for leaks took place in his ship. The crew checked the radio communication system, a laser rangefinder, got acquainted with the on-board documentation, studied the flight program and a list of planned delivery of cargo to the ISS.
During the final sessions at the launch site also scheduled training manual for the ship berthing to the ISS, control pilings with scientific equipment, testing of ballistic upcoming operations and other preparatory procedures.
The members of the main and backup crews TPK "Soyuz MS-03" arrived at the Baikonur Space Center on Tuesday, November 1st. The backup crew - cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin Roscosmos, NASA astronaut Jack Fisher and ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli.
Start TPK "MS-03 Soyuz" with the crew the next long-term mission to the International Space Station is scheduled for November 17, 2016 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/photo_11-02.html
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Thomas Pesquet
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First check of our Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft yesterday. We test everything ten times before we launch, yes including the toilet! Commander Oleg tested the communication systems that took longer than expected but everything is working perfectly, you don't go to space until you're 200% sure everything works
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http://www.roscosmos.ru/22848/
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro
L-14: Six astronauts, four flags. Another tradition we have before flying in the Soyuz spacecraft
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro
Mind your head! Entering a spacecraft with a full spacesuit on is not so easy... But inside, our Soyuz has that nice new-vehicle scent!
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http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/photo_11-04.html
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https://youtu.be/Pv5kH8F3VVk
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https://youtu.be/cTzPr6lTYgg
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Here's a rather silly question: Does each cosmonaut/astronaut wear a Sokol LES custom to them and them alone or are they reused suits? If they're custom, is Peggy Whitson wearing the same suit she previously wore given her history of flying on Soyuz?
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Here's a rather silly question: Does each cosmonaut/astronaut wear a Sokol LES custom to them and them alone or are they reused suits? If they're custom, is Peggy Whitson wearing the same suit she previously wore given her history of flying on Soyuz?
The Sokol suits worn during flight, are custom made for each crew member, and are flown only once. Each suit has a limited certified safe life expectancy, which would not permit it to be reused, so presumably Whitson, like dozens of cosmonauts before her, has a brand new suit.
There are dozens of training suits at GCTC, in all shapes and sizes, and conditions. I am not 100% sure of their origin, but I'd imagine that they are a combination of former flown suits and generic training suits, made to fit multiple users, by Zvevda, for the very purpose.
The total number of Sokol suits manufactured, over the last 45 years, must run into many hundreds.
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The Sokol suits worn during flight, are custom made for each crew member, and are flown only once.
People from NPP Zvezda told me that, if cosmonaut's body has not changed between two flights, the Sokol-KV-2 is reused.
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Press Release
N°38-2016
Paris, 8 November 2016
Call for Media: Press events for ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet's flight to the International Space Station
On 17 November ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet will become the 10th French astronaut to be launched into space, alongside Roscosmos commander Oleg Novitsky and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Journalists and representatives of social media are invited to watch the launch in France at La Géode, Paris, and La Cité de l'Espace, Toulouse. Both events are organised in conjunction with France's CNES space agency.
Thomas will be the first French astronaut to visit the Space Station since ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts helped to install the Europe's Columbus module in 2008.
A former airline pilot, Thomas will travel with his two crewmates to arrive at the Station, to be welcomed by the current resident crew of three. They will travel in a Soyuz MS spacecraft, a recently upgraded version of Russia's workhorse that has
been in service for almost 50 years.
The trio will blast off from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan at 20:20 GMT and will arrive at the Station two days later.
Science is an important part of the mission. Thomas will conduct a wide range of experiments on the Station, an out-of-this world research outpost that serves as a stepping stone for human exploration.
His Proxima mission is the ninth long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut. It is named after the closest star to the Sun - continuing a tradition of naming missions with French astronauts after stars and constellations.
During Proxima, Thomas will perform more than 50 scientific experiments for ESA and CNES as well as take part in many research activities for the other Station partners.
Education and inspiring youngsters is another important part of his mission. Thomas is determined to make Proxima an exciting adventure for all his followers and work as an ambassador for science- and space-based careers.
School activities running alongside Thomas's mission include elements of science or technology, from computer coding, growing crystals and maths demonstrations to fitness and nutrition.
Accreditation
Media wishing to attend one of these events, should register as follows:
La Géode
ESA: Nicola Firth
[email protected]
CNES: Pascale Bresson
[email protected]
La Cite de l'Espace
Florence Seroussi
[email protected]
Social media reporters should check here http://www.esa.int/ESA/Connect_with_us/Application_for_ESA_Social_Media_Credential
that they meet the eligibility criteria and register at https://myconvento.com/public/event_register/do_register/1493157 by 11 November.
For these purposes, social media representatives are defined as bloggers or other social networking users who actively collect, report, analyse and disseminate news and information on digital media platforms.
Follow online
Webstreaming:
ESA will cover the launch live on www.esa.int.
Subscribe at http://livestream.com/ESA/ to get notified ahead of the event about when streaming starts.
Social media
For live updates throughout the launch period, follow @esaspaceflight @esa and facebook.com/ESA. The official hashtag is #Proxima
Also follow Thomas on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
https://twitter.com/thom_astro
https://www.facebook.com/ESAThomasPesquet
https://www.instagram.com/thom_astro/
A Flickr album is available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thom_astro/
ESA TV
ESA TV will provide broadcasters with a live satellite relay of the launch. Several stories have also been prepared on the mission:
- ESA Astronauts training for ISS, 20 September
- Thomas Pesquet training at Star City, 25 October
- ESA Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, 28 October
- Thomas Pesquet, Mission to ISS, 4 November
- Proxima : Latest from Baikonur, 17 November (tbc)
Details at: http://www.esa.int/esatv/Television
The latest high-resolution images can be found at:
ESA's Multimedia Gallery:
http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Keywords/People/Thomas_Pesquet
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro
Success is when you're on a fridge magnet... oh wait a minute I haven't done anything! Still have to go to space #nothingelsematters
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Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro
L-9: Integration of the Soyuz is complete and our spaceraft is inside the rocket fairing. #Proxima
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Soyuz MS-03 space vehicle is docked with the transfer compartment
November 7, 2016
Today, on November 7, RSC Energia specialists successfully completed the set of technological operations for the Soyuz MS-03 new modification manned transport vehicle (MTV) docking with the transfer compartment at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The vehicle pre-launch processing under the International Space Station (ISS) is provided in the spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility (SC ATF) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Earlier the vehicle was fueled with propellant components and compressed gases.
According to the schedule of preparatory operation the following is scheduled for the next week: the vehicle designer’s inspection, the fairing encapsulation and transportation of the upper stage with MTV Soyuz MS-03 from SC ATF to the launch vehicles Assembly and Testing Facility for general assembly with launch vehicle Soyuz-FG.
The launch of MTV Soyuz MS-03 carrying the crew of the next long-duration tour to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled on November 17, 2016 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Oleg NOVITSKY, ESA astronaut Thomas PESQUET and NASA astronaut Peggy WHITSON are prime crewmembers of the ISS-50/51. ROSCOSMOS astronaut Fedor YURCHIKHIN, NASA astronaut Jack FISHER and ESA astronaut Paolo NESPOLI are their backup crewmembers.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss50/photo_11-07.html
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RSC "Energy": the spaceship "Soyuz MS-03" was held Designers inspection
09/11/2016
Today, November 9, RAC experts "Energy" held at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Designers inspection of the manned transport spacecraft (TPC), a new modification of "MS-03 Soyuz" and performed knurled fairing of the launch vehicle "Soyuz-FG".
Preparation of the ship for launch on the International Space Station (ISS) is carried out in the assembly and testing of spacecraft (Spacecraft Assembly) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
According to the schedule of preparatory work for the next week is scheduled transportation headunit with TPK "Soyuz MS-03" of the Spacecraft Assembly and in the assembly and testing building rockets for the general assembly of the rocket "Soyuz-FG".
http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/photo_11-09.html
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https://youtu.be/HLPNRH8sdOY
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https://youtu.be/5q-nQomEl7k
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November 10, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY M16-131
Next Space Station Crew Set for Launch Nov. 17, Watch Live on NASA TV
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) will launch Thursday, Nov. 17, for a six-month stay aboard the International Space Station.
Prelaunch activities will air through Nov. 16, and live launch coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. EST Nov. 17, on NASA Television and the agency’s website. The crew of Expedition 50/51 will launch at 3:20 p.m. (2:20 a.m. Nov. 18, Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
After launching, the crew members will travel for two days before docking to the space station’s Rassvet module at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. NASA TV coverage of the docking will begin at 4:15 p.m. Hatches between the Soyuz and station will open at approximately 7:35 p.m., and the arriving crew will be welcomed by Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko, who have been aboard the complex since October. NASA TV coverage of hatch opening and welcoming ceremonies will begin at 6:45 p.m.
During their stay aboard the orbital complex, Whitson will become the first woman to command the space station twice. Her first tenure as commander was in 2007, when she became the first woman to hold this post. Whitson has an advanced degree in biochemistry, and prior to her selection as an astronaut candidate in 1996, she served in prominent medical science research and supervisory positions at NASA.
The soon-to-be six crew members of Expedition 50 will contribute to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science aboard humanity’s only microgravity laboratory. The crew is scheduled to return to Earth next spring.
Check out the full NASA TV schedule and video streaming information at:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
Keep up with the International Space Station, and its research and crews, at:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
Get breaking news, images and features from the station on Instagram and Twitter at:
http://instagram.com/iss
and
http://www.twitter.com/Space_Station
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https://youtu.be/aOXirEhrR_M
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http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3661
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https://youtu.be/n82ROCoT8sc
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http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3664
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http://www.roscosmos.ru/22898/
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RSC "Energy": space ship MS-03 has been sent to the assembly with the carrier
11/11/2016
Today, 11 November, manned transport spacecraft new modification of "Union of MS-03" development and production of RKK "Energy" as part of the head rail unit transported on the general assembly with the carrier rocket "Soyuz FG".
General assembly is scheduled for November 13 in the assembly and testing of launch vehicles (LV MIC) in preparation for the start of the program of the International Space Station (ISS).
Before sending your headunit with TPK "MS-03 The Union" at the general assembly of the second fitting was carried out, during which the main and backup crews familiar with the controls and in the test mode to check operation of different systems modernized ship.
Start TPK "MS-03 Soyuz" with the crew the next long-term mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled for November 17, 2016 with the number 1 site "Gagarin's Start" Baikonur cosmodrome.
http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/photo_11-11.html
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Good rollout readiness review.
РОСКОСМОС
@roscosmos
Принято решение о готовности ракеты-носителя «Союз-ФГ» с кораблем #СоюзМС03 к вывозу на стартовый комплекс - http://www.roscosmos.ru/22902/ .
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http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/photo_11-14.html
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https://youtu.be/skLOqVNXUmk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VHI-BzydG0
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http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3666
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Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft during roll out by train, on 14 November 2016, from the MIK 112 integration facility to the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad 1, in Kazakhstan.
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and commander Oleg Novitsky will be launched 17 November for a six-month mission on the International Space Station.
Copyrights: ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut, 2016.
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Peggy Whitson @AstroPeggy
Getting my station haircut today. Hope it will last 3 months. Who will cut my hair next time on @Space_Station?
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Jack Fischer @Astro2fish
Only in Baikonur can you have a Soyuz rocket photobomb your crew picture 😜… Rocket’s ready!!
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Jack Fischer @Astro2fish
And 1 more pic from my buddy Bill @ingallsimages—he’s awesome— w/@astro_Paolo and Fyodor.
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Russian State Commission and pre-launch press conference, on 16 November 2016, in Kazakhstan.
Prime crewmembers are Peggy Whitson of NASA, Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency and backup crewmembers are Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency, Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos and Jack Fischer of NASA.
Thomas Pesquet, Peggy Whitson and Oleg Novitsky will be launched 17 November for a six-month mission on the International Space Station.
Copyrights line to be indicated is : ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut, 2016.
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RSC Energia: the crew of the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft has been approved
November 16, 2016
On November 16 the State Commission at the Baikonur Cosmodrome approved the lists of the prime and the backup crews of the modernized manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-03 and confirmed the readiness of the integrated space launch system Soyuz FG/Soyuz MS-03 and its ground infrastructure for the launch under the ISS program.
The prime crew consisted of ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Oleg NOVITSKY (the crew commander), ESA astronaut Thomas PESQUET (flight engineer) and NASA astronaut Peggy WHITSON (flight engineer-2). Approved as their backup crew are ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Fedor YURCHIKHIN, NASA astronaut Jack FISHER and ESA astronaut Paolo NESPOLI.
After the meeting of the State Commission the prime and the backup crewmembers answered the questions of the Russian and foreign journalists at the traditional pre-flight press conference.
The roll-out of the launch vehicle with Soyuz MS-03 from the Assembly and Testing Facility and its installation in a vertical position on the launch pad of Area 1 (Gagarin’s launch pad) of the Baikonur Cosmodrome occurred on November 14. The spacecraft launch is scheduled on November 17.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss50/photo_11-16.html
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Expedition 50-51 - Pre-Launch Crew News Conference
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9993
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Moved for initial mission coverage.
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I've hardly seen any photo where Pesquet is not with a big smile.
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Thomas Pesquet on twitter: @ThomasPesquet
Ma “valise” est prête! Il a fallu faire des choix... À quoi ressemblerait la vôtre? Ça intéresse le @CNES 🛄#MS03 #allezthomas #ISS
His personal items
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I wish GOOD LUCK to my dear compatriot Thomas Pesquet !!! :D :D :D
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Feature article by Chris Gebhardt:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/11/russian-soyuz-expedition-50-crew-station/
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When will NASA TV coverage start?
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When will NASA TV coverage start?
check post above: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=38817.msg1608287#msg1608287
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Live from Baikonur http://www.roscosmos.ru/317/
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The commentary on http://www.roscosmos.ru/317/ is far better that the endless burbling you get on NASA TV.
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The commentary on http://www.roscosmos.ru/317/ is far better that the endless burbling you get on NASA TV.
Speaking of commentary, it was said during the EOM coverage of Soyuz MS-01 that Dan Huot will be the Houston PAO for this afternoon's launch.
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L-1 hour and counting. NASA TV coverage will start in approximately 10 minutes.
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Russian country music just stated on the Roscosmos stream...
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L-50 minutes and counting. Live from the Mission Control Center in Houston, NASA TV presents live coverage of the launch of Soyuz MS-03.
Featuring Dan Huot as our Public Affairs Officer.
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live
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Launch site is at Gagarin's Start (Site 1/5).
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At the present time, all three crew members are strapped inside their capsule. The Descent Module, to be exact.
Seated in the center seat is Commander Oleg Novitsky, a Russian cosmonaut who has flown once before on Soyuz TMA-06M back in October 2012. He stayed on the Station as part of Expeditions 33 and 34 until March 2013. Altogether, he's logged over 143 days in space.
Seated in the left-hand seat is Flight Engineer 1 Thomas Pesquet, a French astronaut representing the European Space Agency, who is making his first spaceflight today. He's the only first-time flyer on this crew. Most notably, he was the backup astronaut for Andreas Mogensen on the Soyuz TMA-18M mission back in September 2015.
Seated in the right-hand seat is Flight Engineer 2 Peggy Whitson, an experienced NASA astronaut who is making her third trip into space. Her first mission was Expedition 5, alongside Russian cosmonauts Valeri Korzun and Sergei Treshchyov, as the first NASA Science Officer. Unlike her second mission and this mission, Whitson launched and landed on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. She logged about 185 days during Expedition 5 including a 4-hour EVA. Whitson's second spaceflight was the Soyuz TMA-11 mission, in which she commanded the Expedition 16 crew. She logged about 192 days in space, bringing her total up to 376 days, and also did 36 more hours of EVA time, which gave her a total of about 40 hours of spacewalk time in 6 EVAs.
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Location when docked.
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The Soyuz MS-02 crew: Sergei Ryzhikov, Andrei Borisenko, and Shane Kimbrough, are still inside their first month aboard the Station. They will return early next year.
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L-45 minutes. Peggy Whitson's autobiography now being played.
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L-41 minutes. Four minutes ago, the flight computer software was loaded into the Descent Module's computers.
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I actually heard "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons being played over the Roskosmos feed.
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Playing past footage of Soyuz MS-03 being hoisted atop Gagarin's Start.
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Showing a live view of the interior of the Korolev Control Center.
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View of MCC-M
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Soyuz MS-03 will not dock with the Station until November 19. This is to continue testing the Soyuz-MS spacecraft. Hopefully, by the time Soyuz MS-04 launches next March, that mission will dock within 6 hours as well as future flights.
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L-35 minutes. Standing by for the Service Towers to be retracted away from the Soyuz rocket. All three crew members have verified their Sokol suit pressures are nominal.
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Playing past footage of what the crew members did before they boarded their spacecraft.
First, they autographed the doors of the Baikonur hotel room. Next, they were blessed by an Orthodox priest. They then made their way to a suitup facility, using a Crew Transfer Van, where they were suited up in their Sokol spacesuits.
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more
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After suiting up, Novitsky, Pesquet, and Whitson got to talk with friends and family using microphones behind a glass wall.
As always, their backup crew members: Fyodor Yurchikhin, Paolo Nespoli, and Jack Fischer, stood behind the prime crew members and continued to follow behind them up until they boarded the Service Tower elevator just in case a last-minute issue arose.
Under 30 minutes to launch.
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Dan's getting annoyed by the static camera view ;D
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Apparently, there's a problem with the NASA TV feed.
So, we'll have to watch the past footage from a small screen in the Korolev Control Center until the NASA TV problem is fixed.
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L-25 minutes. The Service Tower halves are now retracting.
You can barely hear "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten playing over the Roskosmos feed.
Now "On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons is being played.
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L-23 minutes. This launch will mark the 48th flight of the Soyuz-FG rocket and the 1862nd R-7 rocket to be flown since 1957.
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When Novitsky, Pesquet, and Whitson rode the Crew Transfer Van to Gagarin's Start, it took 25 minutes to get from the suitup facility to the launch pad.
I can't tell what song is being played right now.
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Dan overjoyed they've sorted out the feed.
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L-20 minutes. NASA TV feed has been restored.
Just in time to see Novitsky, Whitson, and Pesquet waving goodbye to everyone before boarding the Service Tower elevator.
All three have been aboard for about 2 hours.
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Back to the launch pad shots. Showing the Soyuz venting liquid oxygen from its valves. Those valves will close about 2 minutes before launch.
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Support gantry has retracted.
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At the present time, the Launch Abort System has been armed.
L-17 minutes.
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At the time of launch, the ISS will be flying at an altitude of 251 statute miles over the South Atlantic Ocean just east of Argentina.
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L-15 minutes. The Gagarin's Start launch pad is now clear of all personnel and the Service Tower halves are fully retracted.
Just showed a quick tour of the interior of the Descent Module.
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Showing a past interview with Peggy Whitson about the two-day trip to the Space Station.
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Expedition 50 crewmembers ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, top, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, middle, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos wave farewell before boarding their Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft for launch Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, (Kazakh Time) in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The trio will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan the morning of November 18 (Kazakh time.) All three will spend approximately six months on the orbital complex. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
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L-10 minutes. The Inertial Guidance System is on. Standing by to start the Terminal Count in four minutes.
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L-8 minutes. Everything looking good for an on-time launch at 20:20:13 UTC (2:20:13 AM local).
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L-7 minutes. Flight data recorders and gyros have been turned on.
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Great tune being played into the Soyuz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg
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T-6 minutes. The Terminal Count is underway. The launch key will be inserted in the launch bunker in less than 30 seconds.
NASA PAO Rob Navias now reporting from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden is at the launch site in anticipation of the launch.
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T-5 minutes. Commander Novitsky's controls have been started up. The crew members now closing their helmet visors and starting the oxygen supply to their Sokol suits.
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Launch key shortly
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T-4 minutes. The ignition sequence will last 15 seconds; the longest for any launch vehicle.
Compare that to a Minotaur IV rocket, which ignites and lifts off at T0.
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T-4 mins.
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Launch day for Thomas Pesquet
Credit: ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut, 2016
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T-3 minutes. The booster and core stage engines now being purged with nitrogen in preparation for ignition.
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T-2 minutes, 40 seconds. The spacecraft power umbilical has disconnected and all stages now being pressurized.
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T-2 minutes, 10 seconds. Kerosene and LOX fill-and-drain valves are closed. LOX and N2 loading has stopped.
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Into press.
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Under 90 seconds to liftoff. Weather at Baikonur remains GO.
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T-1 minute. Soyuz now on internal power. The launch vehicle now secure at flight pressures.
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T-40 seconds. The first umbilical tower retracting from the Soyuz.
T-30 seconds. Launch igniters armed.
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T-20 seconds. The second umbilical tower retracting from the Soyuz.
T-15. Engine turbopumps have started, marking the ignition sequence initiation.
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T-10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, main engine start, 1, and liftoff of the Soyuz-FG rocket with Soyuz MS-03, continuing the cooperation of international partners and preparing for a future army of cargo resupply vehicles. Soyuz has cleared the tower.
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LAUNCH!!
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T+15 seconds. Pitch program is underway.
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T+30 seconds. Passing through Mach 1. Vehicle now supersonic.
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T+50 seconds. Max-Q has been achieved. Very little attitude disturbances.
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Nominal first stage.
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T+1 minute, 10 seconds. Vehicle attitude nominal. All boosters and the core stage burning well.
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T+1 minute, 40 seconds. Standing by for the Launch Abort System to jettison. The boosters will jettison shortly afterwards.
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go & Launch
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T+2 minutes. We have LAS separation and all four boosters have jettisoned. Beautiful Korolev Cross.
Soyuz now running on its core stage.
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Staging.
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T+2 minutes, 40 seconds. Fairing has been jettisoned.
Because the rocket is in orbital darkness, the astronauts can't see the limb of the Earth.
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T+3 minutes, 20 seconds.
Core stage engines continue to burn well. The engines consist of the main engine and four verniers.
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T+3 minutes, 50 seconds. The core stage will shut down and separate at T+4 minutes and 58 seconds. Just before separation, the upper stage will ignite using a "hot-fire" technique.
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Peggy is relaxed.
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T+4 minutes, 30 seconds. Getting a good view inside the capsule, looking at the astronauts doing their jobs.
There are two cameras: one looking at Novitsky and Pesquet, and another looking at Whitson and Novitsky.
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T+5 minutes. Core stage shutdown, upper stage ignition, core stage jettison, interstage separation. All four events occurred at the same time.
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Staging.
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T+5 minutes, 50 seconds. Still looking good. During staging, you saw the jolts indicating cutoff and ignition.
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T+6 minutes, 30 seconds. Not much to report as all aspects remain healthy.
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T+7 minutes, 20 seconds. About a minute and a half of powered flight left.
The upper stage engine consists of four thrust chambers, which burn symmetrically.
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T+7 minutes, 55 seconds. Under a minute until the astronauts reach zero gravity.
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T+8 minutes, 20 seconds. Thirty seconds of burn time left for the upper stage.
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T+9 minutes. Upper stage shutdown and spacecraft separation. The upper stage now opening a valve in order to tumble away from the Soyuz MS-03 capsule.
What a jolt that was for the astronauts! Even bigger than the previous one during core stage separation and upper stage ignition!
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T+9 minutes, 30 seconds. The solar panels and antennae have deployed.
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S/C Sep and everything's deployed!
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T+10 minutes. The Korolev Control Center located outside of Moscow is now controlling the Soyuz MS-03 mission. Control was handed off from the Mission Control Center in Houston after the upper stage shut down.
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Why did NASA PAO say the third stage had a single engine?
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Great coverage from Zach.
Chris G's article updated:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/11/russian-soyuz-expedition-50-crew-station/
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Now showing a different view of the Korolev Control Center.
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Great coverage from Zach.
Chris G's article updated:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/11/russian-soyuz-expedition-50-crew-station/
Thanks, Chris. Always a pleasure.
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T+10 minutes. ,,,,. Control was handed off from the Mission Control Center in Houston after the upper stage shut down.
Did PAO say that?
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Now showing a view from the docking camera for the first time.
You'll be seeing the Station from this camera a lot during rendezvous and docking on Saturday.
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T+10 minutes. The Korolev Control Center located outside of Moscow is now controlling the Soyuz MS-03 mission. Control was handed off from the Mission Control Center in Houston after the upper stage shut down.
Did PAO say that?
I got that info from nasa.gov's Soyuz Launch Timeline.
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First view from the Soyuz cam. Docking on Saturday.
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Exact launch time was 20:20:13.099 UTC
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Very quiet in the Mission Control Center in Houston.
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Docking will be scheduled for 22:01 UTC on November 19. Will show launch replays momentarily.
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Dan Huot now signing off the NASA TV coverage.
This has been ZachS09 helping out with the play-by-play commentary for a successful launch at 20:20:13 UTC.
From Mission Control Houston, good-bye for now.
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Why did NASA PAO say the third stage had a single engine?
It's been that way for all Soyuz third stages. They have what appears to be four engines, but it IS a single engine with four nozzles connected to four thrust chambers.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJp-8YBo1ZE
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Thanks for the great coverage and here's to Peggy and her crew having a great flight!
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Expedition 50-51 - Soyuz MS-03 Launch
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9995
Expedition 50-51 - Soyuz MS-03 Launch Replays
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9996
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Why did NASA PAO say the third stage had a single engine?
It's been that way for all Soyuz third stages. They have what appears to be four engines, but it IS a single engine with four nozzles connected to four thrust chambers.
Thanks. Don't they also say at launch there are 20 engines running? Well, we all know how it's built, how it's described can vary, thanks for reminding me.
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inclination 51,66°
period 88,66min
perigee 200,15 km
apogee 244,99 km
http://www.mcc.rsa.ru/sojuz_mc03/main.htm
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Why did NASA PAO say the third stage had a single engine?
It's been that way for all Soyuz third stages. They have what appears to be four engines, but it IS a single engine with four nozzles connected to four thrust chambers.
Thanks. Don't they also say at launch there are 20 engines running? Well, we all know how it's built, how it's described can vary, thanks for reminding me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD-0110
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Why did NASA PAO say the third stage had a single engine?
It's been that way for all Soyuz third stages. They have what appears to be four engines, but it IS a single engine with four nozzles connected to four thrust chambers.
Thanks. Don't they also say at launch there are 20 engines running? Well, we all know how it's built, how it's described can vary, thanks for reminding me.
Like I said, it looks like twenty engines are ignited at liftoff, but really, it's five engines with four thrust chambers/nozzles each. So, in conclusion, "they" are wrong.
-
Why did NASA PAO say the third stage had a single engine?
It's been that way for all Soyuz third stages. They have what appears to be four engines, but it IS a single engine with four nozzles connected to four thrust chambers.
Thanks. Don't they also say at launch there are 20 engines running? Well, we all know how it's built, how it's described can vary, thanks for reminding me.
Like I said, it looks like twenty engines are ignited at liftoff, but really, it's five engines with four thrust chambers/nozzles each. So, in conclusion, "they" are wrong.
Small correction: the first stage (booster for Americaniki) RD-107 has four main nozzles and two vernier nozzles, while the second stage (sustainer) RD-108 has four main nozzles and four vernier nozzles. So in total they have 32 nozzles, 20 main and fixed, and 12 verniers that pivot in a single plane each.
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Peggy’s Personal Pre-Launch Package
NASA Johnson
Published on Nov 18, 2016
Go behind the scenes: with camera in hand, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson draws back the curtain on pre-launch activities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome as she prepares for her second Soyuz launch to the International Space Station. Whitson gives viewers a closer look at technical aspects of the operation as well as some personal insights into getting ready to leave the planet for six months.
https://youtu.be/ixvk5al_0bc?t=001
https://youtu.be/ixvk5al_0bc
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November 17, 2016
RELEASE 16-108
New Crew Launches to Space Station to Continue Scientific Research
Three crew members representing the United States, Russia and France are on their way to the International Space Station after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:20 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 17 (2:20 a.m. Nov. 18, Baikonur time).
The Soyuz spacecraft carrying Peggy Whitson of NASA, Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency), is scheduled to dock with the space station’s Rassvet module at 5:01 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. NASA TV coverage of docking will begin at 4:15 p.m. Hatches are scheduled to open about 7:35 p.m., with NASA TV coverage starting at 6:45 p.m.
The arrival of Whitson, Novitskiy and Pesquet returns the station's crew complement to six. The three join Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko. The Expedition 50 crew members will spend over four months conducting more than 250 science investigations in fields such as biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development.
Upcoming research includes how lighting impacts the overall health and well-being of crew members, and how microgravity affects tissue regeneration in humans and the genetic properties of space-grown plants.
In February, Whitson will become the first woman to command the space station twice. Her first tenure as commander was in 2007, when she became the first woman to hold this post. Whitson has an advanced degree in biochemistry, and prior to her selection as an astronaut candidate in 1996, she served in prominent medical science research and supervisory positions at NASA.
The crew members are scheduled to receive three cargo craft delivering several tons of food, fuel, supplies and research to the station, as well as new lithium ion batteries to replace the nickel-hydrogen batteries currently used on the station to store electrical energy generated by the station’s solar arrays. These will be installed during a series of spacewalks currently scheduled for January.
Whitson, Novitskiy and Pesquet will remain aboard the station until next spring. Kimbrough, Ryzhikov and Borisenko are scheduled to remain aboard the station until late February.
For more than 15 years, humans have been living continuously aboard the International Space Station to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth that also will enable long-duration human and robotic exploration into deep space, including the Journey to Mars. A truly global endeavor, more than 200 people from 18 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 1,900 research investigations from researchers in more than 95 countries.
Check out the full NASA TV schedule and video streaming information at:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
Keep up with the International Space Station, and its research and crews, at:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
Get breaking news, images and features from the station on Instagram and Twitter at:
http://instagram.com/iss
and
http://www.twitter.com/Space_Station
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Moscow reported during the evening DPC that everything with the Soyuz was going normally with nothing to report.
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1 hr 20 mins until this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys1KE9xJWLY
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MS-03 is within 85km from Station at this point. KURS has acquisition of space-to-space comm with ISS.
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Per the timeline, MS-03 would have just completed a DV burn of 24.1m/s to head toward targeted point 1km from Station.
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Updated docking time now 17:02 EST (22:02 GMT) based on burn timing and orbital tracks.
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Now within 50km (31 miles) of ISS.
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Soyuz has closed to within 30km of ISS. So far so good for rendezvous.
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Soyuz crew has visual on ISS.
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Yay...they've got the talking heads off and put this one.
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Coverage has started on NASA TV.
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Rob Navias via a 1983 phone ;)
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KURS radio on Soyuz test complete. System is good for automated docking ops.
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Current location of ISS and Soyuz.
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Now under 10km from ISS.
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The video stream from Soyuz seems far from ideal.
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8.4 km to go.
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Docking coverage that would normally be on NASATV Media is Broadcasting live also on NASATV ISS Livestream.
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The video stream from Soyuz seems far from ideal.
Video isn't the prime thing they're worried about getting back on the ground and monitoring. It's the telemetry and comms that have priority.
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Tony's on console! And Suni in the background.
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ISS getting big... but it still has to get a lot bigger in that view for docking. Soyuz closing at 9m/s at this point.
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4.5km out.
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Now 4km out.
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3.5km. Coming up soon on a series of burns to slow rate of approach and align Soyuz for docking.
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Now 2.5km out from Station. Closing at 8.1m/s
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Soyuz moving to prepare for flyaround.
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Peggy Whitson should surpass record for most-days-in-space by NASA astronaut on April 24 under nominal mission timeline.
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SKD burn complete. Soyuz not approaching much slowly than it was before. Now 1.6km away approaching at 4m/s. Still has to slow to 0.1m/s for docking.
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Epic:
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1km out. Closing at 3.3 m/s.
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Range 1000 meters. Good burn to close the rate of approach.
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Soyuz now preparing for a 56-degree fly-around of ISS to align with its docking port.
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Tally Ho!
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Soyuz is in the approach corridor closing at 1.4m/s at this time.
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450 meters.
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Fly-around for docking port alignment has begun. 21 mins to scheduled docking.
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340 meters -- closing at 0.8 m/s.
-
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"Everything is looking good" - interpreter for Soyuz Commander
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Current range and closure rate in bottom left.
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Fly-around complete. Soyuz Commander sees the docking port. Soyuz now rolling so solar arrays are oriented in proper position for final docking sequence.
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MCC-M and MS-03 discussing brief interruption of video feed. They have it back now.
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Soyuz now station-keeping at 200m from ISS. Awaiting final approval for last push to docking.
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Over Argentina.
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Final Approach Command set and received. Soyuz is now closing on ISS for docking.
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6mins to orbital sunset at this point.
NASA TV switches away to Atlas V launch. :(
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OK. NASA TV media channel back to Soyuz while public switches to Atlas.
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In final approach.
https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#media <---now here
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Soyuz Commander "sees docking port clearly."
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Soyuz on axis of docking port. Target is in the center of the crosshairs. Now flying into orbital sunset.
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50 meters away. Closing at 0.2 m/s.
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"I can see them out of the window!"
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40m distance.
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NASA switches video feeds AGAIN. Range under 25m
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25m. NASA TV being stupid with the change of channels.
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Range: 0.027km
Range rate: 0.12 m/s
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Crosshairs are aligned.
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Range: 0.02km
Range rate: 0.12 m/s
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Range 14m.
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close
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Standing by for contact and capture.
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3.5m out.
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Sunset on ISS... and CONTACT!!!!
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contact and capture
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Capture CONFIRMED. Docking occurring at 4:58p ET -- 4mins ahead of schedule!
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DOCKED!
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Well done to all - and welcome home, Peggy!! ;)
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Waiting on relative motion between Soyuz and ISS to dampen out before driving the hooks to bring the two vehicles to hard dock with each other.
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Some Soyuz systems now being deactivated as we await dampening of relative motion.
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Soyuz hooks have closed. Closure was at 5:04p ET, 6mins after docking. Hard mate complete. Leak checks are next.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ajZ1vqEfrE
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What kind of files are now talking about ?
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What kind of files are now talking about ?
Post-docking timelines for leak checks, Soyuz systems power-down.
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Hatch opening coming up. "No camera" heard over comm.
ISS crew has been given "go" to open Station side of hatch. Soyuz hatch will then open second.
Leak checks complete. Vestibule has been pressurized.
No camera feed now due to Ku coverage. That should resume in 14mins.
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Cygnus makes a cameo -- all attached to SSRMS for unberth ops on Monday morning.
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Station side of hatch is open.
Soyuz hatch ops are nearing completion.
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Equalization of pressures between ISS and Soyuz underway.
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Internal cameras are back. Looking from ISS toward Soyuz hatch.
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MMC-M not wanting Russian crewmember in video frame, telling him to keep off camera.
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Agency directors and special guests gathering in MCC-M to welcome the new crewmembers.
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do we really need two translators for the English
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Soyuz hatch open!
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All three Soyuz MS-03 crewmembers aboard!
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Big Russian hug...
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Gathering for the welcome ceremony.
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Where'd everybody go?
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It appeared they motioned that someone was wiping off their face or something... Peggy touching up her makeup? Just kidding. It did look like she got snagged on the Soyuz hatch entering the module...
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There they all are. Welcome ceremony has started.
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Charlie Bolden: You've got a huge crowd down here. Don't screw it up.
Bolden with kind words to Peggy on shared memories from Shuttle launch 23 years ago. "We're all proud of you."
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ESA representative talking to Thomas about how Soyuz flight differed from his experience as an Air France pilot.
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Honoring the 18th anniversary of the launching of Zarya November 20, 1998
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvSd4IgSxc
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18th birthday of the Zarya module announced on the day of its launch 18 years ago.
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NTV coverage has concluded showing earth views now until GOES-R webcast resumption.
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Press Release
N°45-2016
Paris, 20 November 2016
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet arrives at the International Space Station
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and Roscosmos commander Oleg Novitsky docked with the International Space Station today after a two-day flight in their Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft.
The trio was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 17 November at 20:20 GMT and enjoyed a routine flight to catch up with the Space Station 400 km up.
This was the first launch of an ESA astronaut on an upgraded version of the workhorse spacecraft that has been in service for almost 50 years. Despite the modernisation, for the crew it was like
spending two days in a small car. Throughout the journey the astronauts kept in radio contact with Moscow ground control.
After docking at 21:58 GMT, Thomas, Peggy and Oleg were welcomed aboard the Space Station at 00:40 GMT by NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and cosmonauts Andrei Borisenko and Sergei Ryzhikov.
The six will maintain the Station and work on scientific experiments that cannot be done anywhere else, exploiting the weightlessness that is unique to the space laboratory.
This marks the start of Thomas's Proxima mission, named after the closest star to the Sun - continuing a tradition of naming missions with French astronauts after stars and constellations.
The mission is part of ESA's vision to use Earth-orbiting spacecraft as a place to live and work for the benefit of European society while using the experience to prepare for future voyages of
exploration further into the Solar System.
Thomas will perform about 50 scientific experiments for ESA and France's CNES space agency, as well as take part in many research activities for the other Station partners.
This is the ninth long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut and Thomas is the last of ESA's 2009 recruits to fly into space. A former airline pilot, he is the first French astronaut to visit the
Station since ESA's Léopold Eyharts helped to install Europe's Columbus module in 2008.
The new arrivals will spend six months in space before returning in Soyuz MS-03 to land in the steppes of Kazakhstan. ESA's Paolo Nespoli, backup on this mission, is readying himself for launch
in 2017 shortly after Thomas returns.
Follow on social media
Connect with Thomas on social media via http://thomaspesquet.esa.int/
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My thanks to all of you who contributed to the launch and docking coverage. I missed the first due to press of work. I missed the second due to volunteer-hosting an amateur star party--we do a live program even if the weather doesn't cooperate (it didn't). :)
Also, I wanted to comment: 18 years! (since Zarya's launch)
A stray thought: I will now have job applicants who have lived their entire lives in the ISS era. ;D
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RSC Energia: Spacecraft Soyuz МS-03 delivered the crew to the ISS
November 21, 2016
On Sunday, November 20th, the transportation manned spacecraft of the new modification Soyuz МС-03 with the crew of the next long-duration expedition successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS).
ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Oleg NOVITSKY, ESA astronaut Thomas PESQUET and NASA astronaut Peggy WHITSON were delivered by the spacecraft to the ISS.
The launch vehicle Soyuz-FG with the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-03 was launched from Site No.1 “Gagarin’s launch pad” of the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 23:20:13 Moscow time. The spacecraft Soyuz MS-03 separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle nominally at the expected time and started to approach the ISS using a classic 34-orbit rendezvous profile.
After about two days in free flight the spacecraft reached the station. The docking with the Mini Research Module (MRM1) Rassvet was performed in the automatic mode. The contact of the vehicles was detected at 00:58:17, the spacecraft hooks closed at 01:04:06 Moscow time. The rendezvous and docking used the improved RF system Kurs-NA.
After performing preparatory operations (removing and drying spacesuits, performing a leak test of compartments and the docking interface, equalizing pressure, etc.), transfer hatches between the spacecraft and the ISS were open, and the newly arrived crewmembers transferred to the station. There were be met by ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Sergey RYZHIKOV, ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Andrei BORISENKO and NASA astronaut Robert Shane KIMBROUGH.
The international crew will take part in the flight test of the upgraded spacecraft, including tests of the new systems, i.e. onboard radio system, combined propulsion system, motion control and navigation system, television system. During the ISS-50/51 Expedition operations with transport cargo vehicles of Progress MS series are planned, including testing of proximity operations in the remote teleoperator control mode by Progress MS moving apart from the ISS, stationkeeping and final approach. The crew will be also involved in operations with the US cargo vehicle Dragon, Japanese cargo vehicle HTV, undocking of spacecraft Soyuz MS-02 with three ISS-49/50 crewmembers from MRM2 and docking of Soyuz MS-04 with the ISS-51 and ISS-52 Expedition crewmembers to MRM2. Planned are activities on the station maintenance, outfitting, performance of applied scientific research and experiments (many of which were set up by RSC Energia specialists), onboard photo and video imagery. The applied scientific research program envisages 44 scientific experiments in various areas like bio-medical, geophysical, biotechnological, etc. The total planned duration of the crew flight will be 180 days.
The upgraded manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS developed and built by RSC Energia is designed to deliver the crews of up to three and their accompanying cargos to the International Space Station (ISS), as well as to return them to Earth. When attached to the ISS, it also serves as a crew rescue vehicle and is kept permanently ready for emergency crew return to Earth. The new-series spacecraft Progress MS and Soyuz MS were developed as a result of a radical upgrade of Progress M and Soyuz TMA spacecraft. Most of the technical solutions laid down in Soyuz MS and Progress MS spacecraft design will be used in development of new-generation manned transportation spacecraft Federatsiya being developed by RSC Energia.
The Russian Mini Research Module Rassvet (MRM-1) was launched by Space Shuttle Atlantis in STS-132 mission on May 14, 2010. The module developed and produced by RSC Energia is used for research investigations and cargo storage. Specifically, it serves as a laboratory for preforming experiments in the area of biotechnology, biology, fluid physics and educational investigations. Rassvet is also used as an additional docking port for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft arriving to the station. The module mass is about 5 tons, the length is 5.9 meters, the diameter is 2.2 meters.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss50/photo_11-21.html
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What are we hearing about this mission's EOM date? It's planned for 2 June, but with the slip of Soyuz MS-05 to 28 July, are they really planning to leave ISS with only three crewmembers from 2 June to 28 July? Or will Soyuz MS-03 be staying into July?
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What are we hearing about this mission's EOM date? It's planned for 2 June, but with the slip of Soyuz MS-05 to 28 July, are they really planning to leave ISS with only three crewmembers from 2 June to 28 July? Or will Soyuz MS-03 be staying into July?
BUMPING this to see if anyone's got an answer.
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Confirmation from NASA that this is still set for 2 June.