NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Russian Launchers - Soyuz, Progress and Uncrewed => Topic started by: anik on 08/10/2005 02:55 pm
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Soyuz TMA-7 (factory number 217) ship was delivered on Baikonur cosmodrome on August 6. Launch of Soyuz-FG rocket with spacecraft is planned on October 1 approximately at 03:54:30 UTC.
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Soyuz TMA-7 crew: William McArthur, Valery Tokarev and Gregory Olsen
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Soyuz TMA-7 was loaded into the pressure chamber and Soyuz-FG rocket preparation was begun on September 12
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Soyuz TMA-7 was unloaded from a pressure chamber on September 16 after pneumovacuum tests
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=1124
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Expedition 12 main and backup crews have arrived at the Baikonur cosmodrome on September 18
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=1123
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Great pics! Russian Military always have huge hats! :)
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http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=1127
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Thanks for the images. It's nice to see the ceremony that surrounds this. Is it seen on Russian TV? Much interest?
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FransonUK - 21/9/2005 8:04 PM
Is it seen on Russian TV?
I did not see it on our TV... Unfortunately... :(
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Chris Bergin - 20/9/2005 11:41 PM
Great pics! Russian Military always have huge hats! :)
One size fits all...?
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Baikonur Cosmodrome
09/22/2005
Preparation of Russian transport spacecraft Soyuz TMA-7 with Expedition-12 (ISS-12) prime crew and a space flight participant of visiting crew (VC-9) for launch to the International Space Station is continued.
The spacecraft prime crew (V. Tokarev, W.McArthur, G. Olsen) and backup crew (M. Tyurin, D. Williams, S. Kostenko) passed training during which cosmonauts provided a fit check of individual seat liners, leak and serviceability check of spacesuits, operation with radio equipment.
http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-22.html
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Lots of old equipment, but I suppose...if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
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Baikonur Cosmodrome
09/23/2005
Fueling of the Soyuz TMA-7 transport spacecraft with propellants and compressed gases is under way
http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-23.html
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All still on schedule?
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James Lowe - 25/9/2005 8:23 AM
All still on schedule?
Yeah... October 1! :)
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anik - 25/9/2005 11:13 AM
James Lowe - 25/9/2005 8:23 AM
All still on schedule?
Yeah... October 1! :)
Imagine if NASA could manage manned space flight like the Russians, we would be on Mars by now, but then again there is a lot more $$$ flowing out from NASA, thus analysis paralisys.. and a lot more studies...
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Hi. Not to interrupt the nice report by Anik ;) , I just followed the links to energia and found the latest news... The ship has been examined by the astronauts and is being 'packed in' for the trip. Interesting logos on the shroud http://www.energia.ru/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-25.html ... Of note the US flag (in addition to the Russian) and the Space Adventures logo.
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Could be space tourism? They want to do that
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Baikonur Cosmodrome
09/24/2005
Transport vehicle Soyuz TMA-7 loaded with propellants and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations. This day the vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment
http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-24.html
Baikonur Cosmodrome
09/25/2005
Designers inspection of the Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft was completed. Payload shroud roll on to the spacecraft was performed
http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-25.html
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Stunning pictures Anik. I had no idea Soyuz was so small!
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Shuttle Man - 26/9/2005 3:50 PM
Stunning pictures Anik. I had no idea Soyuz was so small!
Quite cramped - there's some good interior pics here:
http://www.africaninspace.com/home/gallery/soyuz_training/1.shtml
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MKremer - 26/9/2005 5:32 PM
Shuttle Man - 26/9/2005 3:50 PM
Stunning pictures Anik. I had no idea Soyuz was so small!
Quite cramped - there's some good interior pics here:
http://www.africaninspace.com/home/gallery/soyuz_training/1.shtml
Cramped is an understatment.. and they have yet to close the hatch..
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Two photos of the Soyuz TMA simulator in the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC).
By the way, on these photos I sit to the right... Truth! :)
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Baikonur Cosmodrome
09/27/2005
The Soyuz TMA-7 prime and backup crews inspected the transport spacecraft in its launch configuration in the Assembly and Testing Facility. Additionally the crews had a consultation on the kits of equipment that are to be delivered to and returned from orbit on-board Soyuz TMA spacecraft
http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-27.html
Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft was transported from the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility to the Launch Vehicle Assembly and Testing Facility for integration
http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-27_02.html
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Anik's Sexy!!!! :)
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FransonUK - 27/9/2005 9:52 PM
Anik's Sexy!!!! :)
Thanks, FransonUK! ;)
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=1140
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Baikonur Cosmodrome
September 28, 2005
Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft was integrated with the launch vehicle in the LV Assembly and Testing Facility. This day a meeting of the Governmental Commission and the Technical Management was held where a decision was made to roll out the launch vehicle carrying Soyuz TMA-7 to the launch pad
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Baikonur Cosmodrome
09/29/2005
At 5:00 a.m. Moscow Time, the transporter with the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle and the Soyuz TMA-7 transport spacecraft left the Assembly and Testing Facility and arrived to the launch pad for the final pre-launch processing. The Soyuz-FG - Soyuz TMA-7 system was erected on the launcher. First launch day activities began
http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/iss12/photo_09-29.html
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http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=1143
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Very interesting to see the processing to rollout of the Soyuz.
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11:55pm EDT launch, 4:55am :o UK time.
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Tourist gearing up for $20M joyride
BY CHRIS KRIDLER
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050930/NEWS02/509300343/1007/news02
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Does Russian TV cover Soyuz launches well?
You've got me really interested in them. Very much trying to see if I can be around for the launch (who needs sleep ;) )
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Chris Bergin - 30/9/2005 8:55 PM
Does Russian TV cover Soyuz launches well?
Chris, unfortunately, our TV shows manned launches in the record :( , therefore I, for example, shall look Soyuz TMA-7 launch at MCC-M (Mission Control Center, Korolyov) on the air :)
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anik - 30/9/2005 1:31 PM
Chris Bergin - 30/9/2005 8:55 PM
Does Russian TV cover Soyuz launches well?
Chris, unfortunately, our TV shows manned launches in the record :( , therefore I, for example, shall look Soyuz TMA-7 launch at MCC-M (Mission Control Center, Korolyov) on the air :)
Anik... Think its time for some steaming of those MCC tv images.. see what you can do.
All we need is a URL or two.. ;)
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I was reading the launch countdown timeline on spaceflightnow.com at http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp12/status.html and the first thing they do is "T- 6:00:00 Batteries are installed in the booster" I think I understand what it means (internal power is 100% off until launch, a safety precaution and to privent accidental discharge?), but it read kinda funny. Is the booster powered by AAA batteries? ;) (just kidding, looking forward to the launch) In general, the whole launch procedure seems incredibly streamlined (conveyor-like), not that many events.
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No chance NASA TV will be doing the honours I take it?
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http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
"NASA TV coverage of the launch begins at 11 p.m. EDT Friday."
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Tahii - 30/9/2005 9:19 PM
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
"NASA TV coverage of the launch begins at 11 p.m. EDT Friday."
That is great! I think that is in 30 minutes then.
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Tahii - 1/10/2005 3:19 AM
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
"NASA TV coverage of the launch begins at 11 p.m. EDT Friday."
Nice find! :)
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The Russian site also says "watch the blast off", but no live links are seen yet:
http://www.energia.ru/english/index.html
Soyuz is scheduled for liftoff from Kazakhstan at 11:55 p.m. EDT (0355 GMT).
If nothing else, this site has nice day-by-day photo album pages.
Hopefully, they will have a feed that is not ruined by a talking head blocking the mission information, or playing videos of the crew having breakfast as the count gets into the last minutes!
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It was on NASA TV just now. At http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1369080&segment=149773 Showed them prepping the astros (nice carpets, btw!), fitting the liners, doing a press-conf, and waving from the elevator (?) (Ok, the video feed from Baykonour (sp?) has resumed)
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Looks like a beautiful early morning over there.
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Thanks for that different link Imike....
There sure are a lot of people on a hot pad when they climb up to the elevator?
(Of course I would be there with bells on if offered the chance, danger or no!)
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lmike - 1/10/2005 3:58 AM
It was on NASA TV just now. At http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1369080&segment=149773 Showed them prepping the astros (nice carpets, btw!), fitting the liners, doing a press-conf, and waving from the elevator (?) (Ok, the video feed from Baykonour (sp?) has resumed)
That's a much better link through. Many thanks!
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Six minutes to go!
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under three minutes
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Nicely done!
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Flawless! It is nice to watch professionals at work!
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Looks like a pretty gentle ride so far, judging by the internal camera video (haven't seen this one before) no vibrations or g-overloads I can detect from the video, a bit cramped but soon they'll be able to use the orbital module?
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The launch was a lot smoother than NASA TV's tape machine that I can hear in the background ;)
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lmike - 30/9/2005 11:19 PM
Looks like a pretty gentle ride so far, judging by the internal camera video (haven't seen this one before) no vibrations or g-overloads I can detect from the video, a bit cramped but soon they'll be able to use the orbital module?
I did hear them say they had vibrations (medium at launch) and then (some) at later part. It was before it went to internal cam.
They will be squashed in the capsaul for a while longer, it does not have the luxury of the Shuttle. But you can see it works and works well and simple!
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Some random images:
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We actually got to see the boosters come off tonight. That is a Soyuz TV first for me!
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Yes, that was great TV to see.
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Chris Bergin - 30/9/2005 11:25 PM
The launch was a lot smoother than NASA TV's tape machine that I can hear in the background ;)
great flight !!
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Very well done to our Russian friends. Fine launch.
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Congratulations with today's successful Soyuz TMA-7 launch, which, by the way, was 100th Russian manned space launch! :)
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Many congratulations on your 100th manned mission!
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I thought Expedition 10 a year ago was the 100th manned flight. There were articles about it, though they did note the fact that the Russians don't like to count the two launch failures (such as 18A).
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Ben,
Soyuz TMA-5 launch with ISS Expedition 10 was the 98th Russian manned space launch!... :)
The «space launch» considers such launch, «when the rocket leaves the launch pad»... Therefore, Soyuz launch failure on April 5, 1975 is the «space launch», and Soyuz T launch failure (using of emergency rescue system) on September 26, 1983 is not the «space launch»…
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Ah, well that's one way of splitting hairs - unless the entire rocket clears the pad it's not considered a 'launch'. :)
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Anik, here is a post someone made a long time ago on sci.space.history:
http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum31/HTML/000054.html
Is this true, not counting those two (Soyuz 32, 34)?
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Soyuz-32 is included correctly, because it was launched with a crew… :)
Jorge R. Frank is not right, because…
…he has included Soyuz-34, though it was launched without a crew! :o
…he has included Soyuz T (or Soyuz T-10.1), though it was not launched in general! :o
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MKremer - 1/10/2005 1:03 PM
Ah, well that's one way of splitting hairs - unless the entire rocket clears the pad it's not considered a 'launch'. :)
Oh, is that what they mean when they make a point of saying "And the so-and-so has cleared the tower" ?
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Anik, thanks for clarifying.
I get it now. So, 18A is included (the third stage abort) but 10.1 (the pad abort) is not.
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So, if you did decided to count the pad abort as a 'launch' then technically Expedition 11 would have been 100. But for the rocket actually launching, yesterday was 100.
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Ben - 2/10/2005 12:54 AM
So, 18A is included (the third stage abort) but 10.1 (the pad abort) is not.
Exactly! :)
Ben - 2/10/2005 1:00 AM
But for the rocket actually launching, yesterday was 100.
Yeah!... By the way, Soyuz TMA-8 launch on March 22, 2006 will be 100th Russian orbital manned space flight!... ;)
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Well, if we didn't count 51L then STS-71 was only the 99th. So you are following the same rules we do, basically.
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Soyuz 34 was returned with a crew, so therefore a prima facie case can be made that it is a manned mission. Likewise Soyuz 32 which launched with a crew but returned without one is included. It may be better to talk about (missions" rather than "launches". Likewise Souyz T 10A was a mission even though it did not launch, at least not in toto. So 102 manned Soviet/Russian missions it is. may there be many, many more.
Jon
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Ben - 2/10/2005 2:46 AM
Well, if we didn't count 51L then STS-71 was only the 99th. So you are following the same rules we do, basically.
On October 3, 2005...
246 manned space launches:
USSR/Russia – 100 (with Soyuz-18-1 and without Soyuz T-10-1)
USA – 145 (with MR-3, MR-4 and 51-L)
China – 1
242 orbital manned spaceflights:
USSR/Russia – 99 (without Soyuz-18-1 and Soyuz T-10-1)
USA – 142 (without MR-3, MR-4 and 51-L)
China – 1
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Thanks. If you count suborbital, then SS1 and the X-15 would be included as well. That amounts to something like 6 more (3 SS1, not sure on X-15).
Also of note, 436 people have now orbited the earth, and 439 have been past an altitude of 100km. These numbers don't include 51L rookies.
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Found out...two X-15 flights went over 100km, both piloted by Joe Walker.
TMA-7 was the 250th space flight 'mark' in history, and 242nd orbital.
(I keep editing because I keep miscounting..it gets confusing sometimes).
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Docking confirmed. Congrats! Especially to Mr. Olsen who's just fulfilled his life's dream.
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Ben - 3/10/2005 7:00 AM
436 people have now orbited the earth
Ben,
437 people, not 436! :)
Russia – 99
USA – 274
Czechoslovakia – 1
Poland – 1
Germany – 10
Bulgaria – 2
Hungary – 1
Vietnam – 1
Cuba – 1
Mongolia – 1
Romania – 1
France – 9
India – 1
Canada – 8
Saudi Arabia – 1
Netherlands – 2
Mexico – 1
Syria – 1
Afghanistan – 1
Japan – 6
Great Britain – 1
Austria – 1
Belgium – 2
Switzerland – 1
Italy – 4
Ukraine – 1
Spain – 1
Slovakia – 1
Republic of South Africa – 1
Israel – 1
China – 1
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Who was the British one? Micheal Foale? I ask as he's actually American I believe - just happened to be born in the UK?
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JamesSpaceFlight - 3/10/2005 1:16 PM
Who was the British one? Micheal Foale? I ask as he's actually American I believe - just happened to be born in the UK?
If it goes on birth place then we've got another one in a couple of shuttle launches time I think. Sky News interviewed an astronaunt who had an American accent, but was British born and he's going on Atlantis I think.
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Well done on docking too. The Russians sure are smooth!
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JamesSpaceFlight - 3/10/2005 10:16 PM
Who was the British one?
:o :o :o
Sharman, Helen Patricia! ;)
Her biography, for example, on http://www.spacefacts.de/english/bio_inte.htm
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Of course! How did they forget about Helen! :o
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I just realized the mistake...I forgot OLSEN! OF COURSE! 274 and 440 total it is. I deleted my previous posts to avoid my own confusion.
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From UT
New Crew Arrive at the Space Station
http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/space_tourist_exp12_arrive.html?3102005
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And by the way, aside from Foale, the other British-born astronaut is Piers Sellers. STS-112 and slated for the next, 121.
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everyone on board
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Nicely done.
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Good blow-by-blow of a Soyuz landing sequence (TMA-6):
http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp11/status2.html
And for the naturally paranoid and anxious, a report on Soyuz landing safety by James Oberg that is sure to make you lose sleep ;)
http://www.jamesoberg.com/soyuz.html
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bloomin heck, how many landing accidents have those little ships had? One for every five flights!
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"35. Soyuz TM-19. 1994 Nov 4. "Rough" landing, bounced once. Attributed to strong winds by crew commander at postflight press conference (ITAR-TASS, Nov 6). No reported injuries. "
thats over a decade ago, I would rather bounce a little than not come back at all. Its a risky business this spaceflight, but would you rather come back from orbit on a Soyuz of a Shuttle?
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Expedition 11 return suffered depressurization (but not catastrophic, obviously) during re-entry.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9697668/
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"Dangling strap to blame for scary space leak? Russian space officials say 'rushed' crew failed to shut hatch properly"
By James Oberg, NBC News space analyst
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9888881/
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Damn, that was a worry after all!
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So, why did the ground give 'go-ahead' 6 minutes after they saw 'off-nominal readings'? I think that's a bigger reason to worry than a strap in the airlock. If they'd requested hatch seal investigation they may have found the problem right there in 10 minutes. Screw the biosamples and the straps, I'd replace some ground controllers after this! There are some worthy causes for requiring bravery from crew, but this was just carelessness and neglect, IMO.
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Is it not the commanders call in the world of Spaceflight? Does he/she not have final go/no-go?
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The article above says the Mission Control gave the permission. This is actually an old and general feature of Soviet/Russian space operations. Most of the mission control and decision making is delegated to the ground who monitor sensors and even upload commands to the spacecraft. The crew are more of an extra instrument to tell the ground what they observe in this sense. (although there are manual overrides for some critical stages, as for docking for example, there's even a small periscope on the Souyz) , but generally... That's the sense I got from reading old memoirs and accounts of several cosmonauts.
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Records offer rare look at space medical secrets
Space passenger Gregory Olsen releases health files usually kept private
By James Oberg, NBC News space analyst
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11407761