LIVE: Soyuz TMA-18 launch and docking - April 2010

[jacqmans]

ISS Crew Continues Preps for Return

17.09.2010

Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft‘s will return to Earth on Sept. 24 with Expedition 24 Commander Alexander Skvortsov and Flight Engineers Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Mikhail Kornienko aboard. The trio’s departure will signal the start of Expedition 25 under the command of current Flight Engineer Doug Wheelock.

Russian crew members continue their preparations for return, taking special vitamins and training in Chibis device which reproduces gravity for the lower part of the body. As long-term space missions make muscles weaker, Russian scientists developed Chibis in order to simplify rehabilitation for the returning cosmonauts.
Soyuz TMA-18 is slated for departure from the ISS at 5:34 a.m. MSK, Sept. 24, and to land at 8:55 to the east of Kazakhstan's Dzheskazgan.


Roscosmos PAO
http://www.roscosmos.ru/

[Space Pete]

About 20 Air Force Craft to Maintain Soyuz TMA-18 Crew Safety During Descent.

Return of the ISS-24 crew will be supported by about 20 helicopters and airplanes, and 250 people, official of Russian Air Force Vladimir Brik told RIA Novosti.
The Air Force trainied yesterday in Kazakhstan in order to prepare for landing of the Soyuz TMA-18 with three crew – Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko and Tracy Caldwell Dyson early in the morning on Sept. 24. The capsule is expected to land at 08:55 a.m. Moscow time, North East from Kazakhstan’s Dzheskazgan.
On the ground, expert groups from Rosaeronavigation, GCTC, RSC-Energia, IBMP doctors, NASA and other entities will wait for the crew in several expected landing spots.
According to Brik, Russian Air Force will also support the launch of the Soyuz TMA-01M crew vehicle to occur on Oct. 8 from Baikonur.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10382&lang=en

[Salo]

http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10408

:: 24.09.2010
Statement for mass media by Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov

“Departure and landing operations of the Soyuz TMA-18 crew vehicle scheduled for this morning are postponed for tomorrow due to technical reasons.
Preliminary analysis shows that the onboard computer system acquires false Soyuz/ISS interface leak signal. On the other hand, leak check operations confirm pressurized status of the interface. The departure could have taken place during the 3rd orbit today, however the State Board decided to postpone Soyuz departure and landing for tomorrow in order for the experts to find out about the reason for the glitch and to support the dynamical operations properly.
MCC, Rosaeronavigation personnel begin operations in order to support descent and landing on Sept. 25 in a back-up spot.
The Soyuz crew – Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko and Tracy Caldwell Dyson – were ordered by the ground control to return back to the station.  Health status of the crew is fine”.

Roscosmos PAO
MCC-M, Korolev

[Cbased]

Is it the place to track the undocking that is happening right now?

Update: found this thread in the ISS section:
Expedition 24 thread (June 2 - September 24, 2010) - Includes ETCS Updates

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-18 Crew Received Roscosmos Awards.

Soyuz TMA-18/ISS 23-24 crew successfully completed the mission program, Roscosmos Stats Secretary- Deputy Head Vitaly Davydov stated today during ‘Welcome-Home’ ceremony for Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko, Tracy Caldwell Dyson at Star City.
Davydov also noted that the crew was very professional, despite the fact that it had been the first space mission for Skvortsov and Kornienko.
The crew spent more than 170 days in the station, received 6 space vehicles, performed more than 40 experiments, including the international ones, took part in integration of new Russian module Rassvet which enhanced the capabilities of the Russian segment.
Roscosmos Deputy Head congratulated the crew and presented special awards of the Federal Space Agency to Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko and Tracy Caldwell Dyson.

Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10639&lang=en

[Space Pete]

Russian Space Vehicle Departure Failure Isolated – MCC.

The problem which occurred during Soyuz TMA-18 departure from the International Space Station on Sept. 24 has been isolated, ISS RS Flight Director Vladimir Soloviev told Interfax. According to him, there is no issue with opening the hooks during departure sequence anymore due to special seal in the connector. The problem on Sept. 24 was caused by a broken gear which led to false signal on the detectors preventing the vehicle to undock.
However investigation of the failure has not completed yet to find out the cause of the damage.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10690&lang=en