Author Topic: LIVE: Soyuz TMA-18 launch and docking - April 2010 (Read 74128 times)

Satori · « **Reply #20 on:** 03/25/2010 02:22 pm »

Soyuz TMA-18 transport cargo vehicle was docked with a transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.

jacqmans · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/29/2010 08:08 am »

Soyuz TMA-18 Crew Hosts Press Day at Baikonur
29.03.2010

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8952

Baikonur space port: mass media spent this morning making their reports about Soyuz TMA-18 crew training.

Soyuz TMA-18 crews- Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko, Tracy Caldwell-Dyson (prime), and Alexander Samokutiaev, Andrey Borisenko, Scott Kelly (backup) – hosted the Press Day today at GCTC premises, Baikonur.
The crews demonstrated Soyuz manual docking simulation, sporting exercises, 0-g training.

Cosmonauts and astronauts also played billiards and ping-pong.

In the afternoon, prime crew planted trees in the Cosmonaut Alley. The tradition was initiated by the first space man Yury Gagarin, and followed by each Soyuz crew.

Soyuz TMA-18 crew continue preflight training in line with the schedule. Tomorrow cosmonauts and astronauts will have their second fit-check in the Soyuz vehicle.

jacqmans · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/29/2010 08:12 am »

March 27, 2010. Baikonur launch site,

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-27.html

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Designers inspection of the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft was completed.
Payload shroud roll on to the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft was performed.

jacqmans · « **Reply #23 on:** 03/30/2010 08:59 am »

March 29, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-29_2.html

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing the Soyuz TMA-18 manned spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.

jacqmans · « **Reply #24 on:** 03/30/2010 09:01 am »

March 29, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-29.html

In the assembly/test building primary (Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko (Roscosmos, Russia), Tracy Caldwell Dyson (NASA, USA)) and backup (Andrei Borisenko, Alexander Samokutyaev (Roscosmos, Russia), Scott Kelly (NASA, USA)) crews of the Soyuz TMA-18 transportation spacecraft made a check inspection of the spacecraft in the launch configuration and got acquainted with equipment to be delivered and returned to the ground.

jacqmans · « **Reply #25 on:** 03/30/2010 09:04 am »

Soyuz TMA-18: the Second Fit Check (Baikonur)
29.03.2010

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8956

Integration and test facility 254, Baikonur, today hosted the second fit check for the Soyuz TMA-18 crew vehicle due to fly to the International Space Station on April 2.

Cosmonauts and astronauts were first instructed by Nikolai Zelenschikov, RSC-Energia First Vice President: . «The status of the Soyuz vehicle is the same you will see at the launch pad. All kits are already accommodated. All your remarks of the first fit check are taken into account».

During the acceptance procedure, the crew verified accommodation of the cargo in the vehicle and performed one more fit check to see if their comments were appropriately implemented.

«On behalf of our crew, I would like to thank all designers of this wonderful and reliable space vehicle. We appreciate your efforts to make it comfortable for us. We are ready for our mission», Alexander Skvortsov, Soyuz TMA-18 commander, said.

After the session, Soyuz TMA-18 crews visited Soyuz LV facility of TsSKB-Progress and Baikonur’s museum, site 2.

jacqmans · « **Reply #26 on:** 03/30/2010 09:04 am »

MCC-M: Ready to Control Soyuz TMA-18
30.03.2010

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8960

Today, the meeting of the Mission Control Center operation and engineering management concluded about readiness of the ground control groups for upcoming Soyuz TMA-18 orbital operations. The conclusion was made as a result of the training (simulations) for the MCC personnel completed recently.

The objective of the training session was to exercise and to consolidate the skills of the operation control groups regarding Soyuz TMA-18 orbiting, rendezvous and docking.

The scope of the simulation covered actions of the crew and ground controllers in nominal situations and contingencies. In addition, the simulations were to check readiness of the MCC hardware and software for the upcoming operations.

Soyuz TMA-18 launch is scheduled for April 2, 08:04:34 Moscow time (04:04:34 GMT). The vehicle with Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko, Tracy Caldwell-Dyson aboard is due to dock to the ISS on April 4, at 09:26 MSK (05:26 GMT).

jacqmans · « **Reply #27 on:** 03/31/2010 08:39 am »

March 30, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-30_2.html

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

A meeting of the Technical management under the chairmanship of RSC Energia President and General Designer V.A. Lopota and State commission was held. A decision on rollout of the launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned spacecraft to the launch facility and its preparation for launch planned for April 2, 2010 was adopted.

jacqmans · « **Reply #28 on:** 03/31/2010 08:54 am »

March 30, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-30.html

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

In the LV Integration and Checkout Facility, the basic integration of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the upper composite has been completed.

jacqmans · « **Reply #29 on:** 03/31/2010 08:57 am »

Soyuz TMA-18 Preflight Interviews

Soyuz TMA-18 Commander Alexander Skvortsov:
http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8963

Soyuz TMA-18 Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko:
http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8962

Soyuz TMA-18 Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson:
http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8961

jacqmans · « **Reply #30 on:** 03/31/2010 09:00 am »

ILV "Soyuz-FG with Soyuz TMA-18" exported to the launch facility

31.03.2010

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9867

The cosmodrome Baikonur continues preparations to launch space rocket Soyuz-FG with transport manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-18.

Today, in accordance with the schedule of training, space rocket has been removed from the assembly-test facility to the Baikonur site 112 and transported by rail to the launch complex area 1 ( "Gagarin Launch").

After installing the RCN in the launcher to it summed up the mast of service.

Now experts at the launch complex enterprise rocket and space industry of Russia is carrying out operations on schedule

PahTo · « **Reply #31 on:** 03/31/2010 03:21 pm »

Quote from: jacqmans on 03/31/2010 08:54 am

March 30, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-30.html

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

In the LV Integration and Checkout Facility, the basic integration of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the upper composite has been completed.

Thanks for posting the updates on TMA-18/Exp 23 launch preps, Jacques (and nice to meet you at the STS-130 dinner).

Questions for anyone:

In the image of the 3rd stage--are those nozzle protectors? Are the nozzle protectors being installed or removed? If being installed, do they get blown out at engine start? Thanks!

Go TMA-18, Go Discovery, Go ISS!

jacqmans · « **Reply #32 on:** 03/31/2010 09:01 pm »

March 31, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-31.html

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

A rollout of the Soyuz spacecraft from the assembly-test facility to the launch site was provided. The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-18 transport spacecraft was erected on the launch pad. Operations under the launch minus two days program began.

The launch of the Soyuz-FG integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the ISS Orbital Complex is planned for April 2, 2010 at 08:04:34 Moscow time.

jacqmans · « **Reply #33 on:** 03/31/2010 09:07 pm »

Soyuz TMA-18 Roll out photos"

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9872

jacqmans · « **Reply #34 on:** 04/01/2010 08:28 pm »

April 1, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_04-01.html

The State Commission held its meeting at Baikonur launch site where the primary and backup crews for Soyuz TMA-18 were approved and the readiness of the space launcher system was confirmed.

At the suggestion of the Head of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center S.K. Krikalev, the State Commission approved the proposed composition of the primary and backup crews.

Prime crew: Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Skvortsov (Roscosmos, Russia), ISS-23 Flight Engineer, ISS-24 Commander, Commander of the Soyuz TMA TSÑ; Mikhail Borisovich Kornienko (Roscosmos, Russia), ISS-23/24 Flight Engineer, Soyuz TMA TSC Flight Engineer; Tracy Caldwell Dyson (NASA, USA), ISS-23/24 Flight Engineer, Soyuz TMA TSC Flight Engineer.

Backup crew: Andrei Ivanovich Borisenko (Roscosmos, Russia), ISS-23 Flight Engineer, ISS-24 Commander, Soyuz TMA TSC Flight Engineer; Aleksandr Mikhailovich Samokutyaev (Roscosmos, Russia), ISS-23/24 Flight Engineer, Commander of the Soyuz TMA TSC; Scott Kelly (NASA, USA), ISS-23/24 Flight Engineer, Soyuz TMA TSC Flight Engineer.

The members of the primary and backup crews reported their readiness for the mission.

The launch of the Soyuz-FG integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the ISS Orbital Complex is planned for April 2, 2010 at 08:04:34 Moscow time.

Space Pete · « **Reply #35 on:** 04/01/2010 10:13 pm »

From ISS Daily Report for 01/04/2010:

Soyuz Launch: Countdown for the launch of Soyuz TMA-18/22S tonight at 12:04 AM EDT is proceeding nominally. Today, the Russian State Commission held its L-1 meeting at the Baikonur launch site, approving and confirming the primary and backup crews for TMA-18 on the recommendation of the Head of the GCTC Sergei K. Krikalev, and the readiness of the space launcher system.

22S Flight Plan Overview (Flight Day 1):

. Launch to Orbit (~9 min in duration).
. Auto deployment of solar arrays & antennas.
. Pressurization of prop tanks and filling of Soyuz manifolds.
. Docking probe extention.
. Leak check by crew of BO & SA modules.
. KURS self tests.
. Test of BDUS angular rate sensors (2).
. Attitude established (OSK = LVLH).
. Crew opens BO-SA hatch, ingresses BO and doffs Sokol suits.
. Test of RUO rotational hand controller.
. Soyuz put in ISK (sun spinning/"barbecue") mode.
. Data for DV1 & DV2 burns uplinked.
. SOA air purification system activated in BO and deactivated in SA.
. DV1 burn (3:39:44 AM).
. DV2 burn (4:38:38 AM).
. Soyuz back in ISK attitude.
. Crew clean & dry Sokols.
. Crew sleep.