LIVE: Soyuz TMA-19 Launch and Docking, June 15-17, 2010

[Nicolas PILLET]

Mission patch was revealed today in Roskosmos.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9957

[jacqmans]

Soyuz TMA-19 Shipped to Baikonur

16.04.2010

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9112

This night, a train with the Soyuz TMA-19 crew vehicle left Korolev, Moscow region, for Baikonur.

The Soyuz produced by Korolev RSC-Energia is intended to deliver three new crew members to the International Space Station.

The train is supposed to arrive at Baikonur on April 19. The launch of the crew vehicle by Soyuz-FG is scheduled for June 16.

[jacqmans]

Soyuz TMA-19 Crew Vehicle Delivered to Baikonur

19.04.2010

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9145

A train from S. P. Korolev RSC-Energia arrived at Tura-Tam railway station today, at 8.30 a.m. Moscow time. It delivered Soyuz TMA-19 crew vehicle to Baikonur.
After the customs clearance, the vehicle will be headed to site 254, to the test and integration facility, for prelaunch processing.

Soyuz-FG launcher is planned to loft Soyuz TMA-13 on June 16, 2010.
The crew vehicle will transport three new members of the ISS expedition crew to the International space station.

[jacqmans]

Soyuz TMA-19 Under Tests in the Acoustic Chamber

17.05.2010


Soyuz TMA-19 launch campaign continues at Baikonur. The Soyuz with 3 crew is to fly to the International Space Station in mid June.

Yesterday experts of the rocket and space industry completed integrated tests of the vehicle systems and transported the vehicle into acoustic chamber, which represents a hall with the walls covered by RF-absorbing material. Thus, space-simulated environment is developed for the RF systems. The chamber is used to test systems of the vehicle, including docking monitoring system Kurs. 
 Soyuz TMA-19 is scheduled to lift off aboard Soyuz-FG rocket on June 16.

http://www.roscosmos.ru

[jacqmans]

For News Media: Soyuz TMA-19 Crew Exams at GCTC

19.05.2010

Gagarin Space Training Center will host today two-day exam session for the prime and backup crews of the Soyuz TMA-19 vehicle scheduled to fly to the International Space Station on June 16.
 Prime crew- Russian Fiodor Urchikhin, NASA`s Duglas Wheelock and Shannon Walker- will pass their integrated training in the ISS simulator on May 25. Their backup Dmitry Kondratiev, Katrin Colleman, Paolo Nespoli will be examined in the Soyuz TMA mockup on the same day.
The crews to swap on May 26.
The examination board is to conclude about crew readiness to fly upon the results of the integrated training sessions.
   
News media can get accredited through GCTC PAO at 526-39-17, or [email protected], before 2 p.m., May 24.
On the training days, journalists shall arrive at the main gate of GCTC at 7.45 a.m.
   
Roscosmos PAO
http://www.roscosmos.ru

[jacqmans]

Soyuz TMA-19 Reentry System Under Test

20.05.2010

Tests of the Soyuz TMA-19 crew vehicle go on at Baikonur. The Soyuz is slated for launch by Soyuz-FG rocket on June 16.
The Soyuz reentry system is being tested today. The system maintains control of the vehicle during Soyuz descent in order to avoid ballistic landing and high g-loads for the crew. Roll, pitch, yaw control engines serve for this purpose..   
Soyuz TMA-19 undergoes preparations for further accommodation in the vacuum chamber for leak check. 

Roscosmos PAO
http://www.roscosmos.ru

[jacqmans]

crew photo

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-24/html/jsc2010e085347.html

[jacqmans]

Soyuz TMA-19 Crew Passes Decisive Tests in Star City

25.05.2010


Russia's Star City, the country's center for training future cosmonauts, is putting a new batch of students through their paces. If they pass, the graduates will be sent to the International Space Station.

Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and astronauts Douglas Wheelock and Shannon Walker are preparing to be the main crew of the 24th expedition to the International Space Station. They have passed several types of preparations and tests over the last months both in Russia and the US. Today they pass their final exam concerning the Russian segment of the ISS. They will work a whole day in an exact duplicate of that part of the station, showing their knowledge of the equipment, how they can work together and – most importantly – how they can solve various problems and malfunctions that may arise during their stint onboard the ISS.
Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin is probably the most experienced one of the crew, having spent 207 days in space over the course of two missions. On three occasions, totaling 18 hours and 44 minutes, he has ventured into open space. He also was the commander of the 15th expedition to the ISS when space tourist Charles Simonyi was a member of the crew. The 24th will be his third flight.
Astronaut Douglas Wheelock has already visited the ISS on a space shuttle, while it is going to be the first flight for Shannon Walker. Walker lived in Russia for around a year and Wheelock is one of NASA’s main representatives to the Russian Space Agency. As such, it is unlikely that the three will have any communication problems during either the tests or the flight itself.
The Soyuz spacecraft is scheduled to take off on June 15 from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The 24th expedition is planned to spend about half a year on the orbiting lab. They will be visited by at least one American space shuttle and several Russian Progress cargo ships.
The members of the expedition will train up until the last day before launch.


Roscosmos PAO
http://www.roscosmos.ru

[jacqmans]

Future ISS Crews Fight with Various Contingencies During Their Final Preflight Exams

25.05.2010


The crews of the Soyuz TMA-19 vehicle were passing through their final exam session at GCTC today. Prime crew- Russian Fiodor Urchikhin, NASA`s Douglas Wheelock and Shannon Walker- went through the integrated training in the ISS simulator. Their backup Dmitry Kondratiev, Katrin Colleman, Paolo Nespoli were examined in the Soyuz TMA mockup in parallel.
 
Prime crew had to cope with several off-nominals:
1. False alarm of the smoke detector (response to changing of the air transparency)
2. Failure of the ground comm VHF-receiver
3. Overloaded urine container in the ASU (toilet).
4. Dust allergy (asphyxia) of flight engineer Walker
5. Fire extinguishing in the ISS Service module

 

The following contingencies were in the exam ticket of the backup crew:

1.  Post-separation failure of the acoustic unit (no comm between the crew members, the crew and the ground after Soyuz separation from the launcher)
2. Failure of the range transponder (the range is measured by the Kurs system) during Soyuz rendezvous with the ISS
3. Failure of the contact sensor during Soyuz/ISS docking
4. Post-undocking non-extinguishable fire
5. Failure of the SW timing unit during emergency descent (the crew has to switch to manual descent control)
6. Failures of two angular velocity sensors in the descent control system (the crew has to switch to ballistic descent).

The crews are to swap their exam places tomorrow.


Roscosmos PAO
http://www.roscosmos.ru

[TALsite]

The NK Forum is reporting some info about ¿the re-examination? of the Yurchikhin's crew... 
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10875&sid=73f9116972847c003f0597f5ec756420

But with automatic translators, I can't understand what has really happened.
Anik or other russian-speaker could give us some light? Thanks.

[aquarius]

The NK Forum is reporting some info about ¿the re-examination? of the Yurchikhin's crew... 
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10875&sid=73f9116972847c003f0597f5ec756420

But with automatic translators, I can't understand what has really happened.
Anik or other russian-speaker could give us some light? Thanks.

The article that is posted in that forum says that the crew got a low grade at the exam, so they had to go through re-examination.

[Lewis007]

Roscosmos news release on May 31 (slightly corrected, the names of the US astronats were misspelled):

The Interagency Board met today at GCTC to evaluate the readiness of the Soyuz TMA-19 crew to fly to the International Space Station on June 16.
The Board evaluated the crews which were passing through the examination training for two days in the Soyuz and ISS simulators at GCTC.
The Board approved the prime and backup crews of the Soyuz TMA-19 crew vehicle:
Prime:
Fiodor Yurchikhin- Roscosmos cosmonaut, Soyuz commander
Shannon Walker- NASA astronaut
Douglas Wheelock- NASA astronaut

Backup:
Dmitry Kondratiev- Roscosmos cosmonaut, Soyuz commander
Catherine Coleman - NASA astronaut
Paolo Nespoli- ESA astronaut.

The Roscosmos Board and General Designers Review will take place in the coming days to confirm readiness of the launch facilities and companies involved in the campaign.
The crews will be finally approved by the State Board at Baikonur.
-----

Some pictures of the final exams can be found here:
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90781/90876/7001043.html

[Lewis007]

With regard to the re-examination of the prime crew, this is what I gather from the translated Russian texts:
Shannon Walker suffered from an allergic reaction during the second day of the test. As a result, the crew’s test result was below standard, and Soyuz commander Yurchikhin insisted that the test should be considered as ‘flunked’, and should be redone. In the end, the crew got 4.6 points (out of 5), and the back-up crew 4.8.

On May 31, the crew participated in the traditional 'Moscow ceremonies,' which includes laying flowers at the graves of Gagarin and Korolev inside the Kremlin wall.

[aquarius]

Shannon Walker suffered from an allergic reaction during the second day of the test.

She didn't suffer from an allergic reaction, it was simulation to train the crew for such an eventuality.

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-19 poster from Doug Wheelock via Twitter (http://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels). The poster honours two great moments in the US-Russian partnership - "Meeting at the Elbe" and "Apollo-Soyuz".

[jacqmans]

June 3, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

Primary (Fyodor Yurchikhin (S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), Douglas Wheelock and Shannon Walker (NASA, USA)) and backup (Dmitriy Kondratiev (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Katherine Coleman (NASA, USA) and Paolo Nespoli (ESA, Italy)) crews of the Soyuz TMA-19 transportation spacecraft arrived to the Baikonur launch site. At the airport they were met by members of the State Commission and Technical Management.

Commanders of the crews reported on their readiness for pre-flight training and Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft acceptance.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss24/photo_06-03.html

[jacqmans]

ISS International Crew Raises Flags of their Countries at Baikonur

06.06.2010


Following one of Baikonur’s traditions, Soyuz TMA-19 crews- prime (Fyodor Yurchikhin (Roscosmos),  Shannon Walker (NASA), Douglas Wheelock (NASA)), and backup (Dmitry Kondratiev (Roscosmos),  Paolo Nespoli (ESA),  Сatherine Coleman (NASA)) - raised the flags of their native countries at GCTC premises of the space port this morning.
The ceremony was also attended by officials of Roscosmos, Baikonur administration, representatives of the Kazakhstan Republic, NASA, Space Forces, and many others.
Evgeny Anisimov, Roscosmos’ Department Head at Baikonur, said in his welcome speech that all space industry was working hard to support the upcoming launch of the Soyuz TMA-19 crew vehicle.
After the flag raising ceremony, journalists questioned the prime crew about their future work in the ISS.
The Soyuz commander Fyodor Yurchikhin stated that he would be eager to continue ISS promotion, following Max Suraev and Oleg Kotov.  "I would like to carry out a kind of educational project, to communicate kids directly from the orbit”.
Memorial Space Museum and Roscosmos are opening a mail box for ISS cosmonauts on June 18. Any child would be able to write to the crew members and get their answers on-line.
The crew reminded about their crew patch, traditionally designed by 8-year-old kid of Marii El, Zhenya Emelianov.  The crew thanked Roscosmos for continuing this tradition.
 
Roscosmos PAO

[jacqmans]

Soyuz TMA-19: Conquering the Olympus

05.06.2010

Soyuz TMA-19 crew picked the name of Greek mountain Olympus as their call sign.
The call sign of Fyodor Yurchikhin will “make” the second mission to space.

««Conquering the Olympus» is a popular quotation, which means “to achieve some height”»,-  Yurchikhin explained during the conference in Memorial Space Museum (MSM) a few days before leaving for Baikonur. «In my previous mission, I thought a lot about my call sign. I wanted it to be somehow symbolic, and linked with mountains, with the Earth… My parents live in Greece, I saw the Olympus there. It was the best choice for my crew».

The crew will also take plush puppy as a talisman and 0-g indicator in Soyuz. The puppy is an experienced cosmonaut, slated to make the second mission with his owner.

To remind, another “honored cosmonaut of the 0-g indicator team” – black kitten of Oleg Kotov- returned from space on June 2.
 
Roscosmos PAO

[Targeteer]

I saw a note that an ISS reboost of 7.5 km occurred yesterday. I'm confused because there was a DEBOOST (~1.5 km by a Soyuz) earlier in the week in preparation for the TMA-19 docking.  Can someone explain the logic because this seems like a waste of valuable prop.  I know orbital mechanics can be complicated but I'm really confused

[Olaf]

I saw a note that an ISS reboost of 7.5 km occurred yesterday. I'm confused because there was a DEBOOST (~1.5 km by a Soyuz) earlier in the week in preparation for the TMA-19 docking.  Can someone explain the logic because this seems like a waste of valuable prop.  I know orbital mechanics can be complicated but I'm really confused

The earlier deboost was in preparation  of undocking and landing of Soyuz TMA17.

[jacqmans]

June 4, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

The prime and backup crews for the ISS-24/25 initiated a final training phase at the Launch Site.

Fyodor Yurchikhin (Roscosmos, Russia), Douglas Wheelock, Shannon Walker (NASA, USA), Dmitriy Kondratiev (Roscosmos, Russia), Katherine Coleman (NASA, USA) and Paolo Nespoli (ESA, Italy) had training sessions onboard the spacecraft, acquainted with the onboard documentation and the content of cargoes launched and also made a fitting of the Sokol-KB space suits and individual liners.

Today a meeting of Technical Management was held where a decision to fill the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft with propellant components and compressed gases was accepted.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss24/photo_06-04.html

[jacqmans]

June 6, 2010. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-19 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Soyuz TMA-19 transport manned vehicle fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss24/photo_06-06.html

[jacqmans]

Report #J10-014

HOUSTON’S FIRST NATIVE ASTRONAUT LAUNCHES TO SPACE TUESDAY

HOUSTON – Although every NASA astronaut has called Houston home at one time or another, only one -- astronaut Shannon Walker -- was born, raised and educated from first grade through her doctorate in Space City. Walker is scheduled to lift off Tuesday on her first spaceflight, a long-duration mission to the International Space Station.

Walker will serve as a flight engineer and conduct research onboard the station during Expedition 24 and Expedition 25. She is scheduled to launch in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft June 15 at 4:35 p.m. CDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan with Army Col. Doug Wheelock and Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. The trio will join Expedition 24 in progress, with station commander Alexander Skvortsov and flight engineers Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Mikhail Kornienko, who have been onboard the orbiting lab since April. Walker is scheduled to return to Earth with her Soyuz crewmates in late November.

Walker was born in Houston, attended Parker Elementary School, Johnston Middle School and graduated from Westbury Senior High School. She received a bachelor’s in physics as well as a master’s and doctorate in space physics from Rice University. She was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 2004 following more than a decade of work in the local space industry.

Walker’s launch and arrival to the station will be broadcast live on NASA TV and the Internet. The live events and video of surrounding activities are (all times CDT):

June 15
3 p.m. -- Video feed of final prelaunch activities in Baikonur
3:45 p.m. -- Coverage of launch from Baikonur, scheduled for 4:35 p.m., and replays
7 p.m. -- Video File of prelaunch activities, launch and post-launch interviews from Baikonur

June 17
5 p.m. -- Coverage of Soyuz docking to station, scheduled at 5:25 p.m., and post-docking news conference from Korolev, Russia
9:00 p.m. -- Hatch opening
9:50 p.m. – Welcoming ceremony
11:30 p.m. -- Video File of docking, hatch opening and welcome ceremony

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For Walker’s complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/walker-s.html


For the latest information about the International Space Station and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station


-end-

[Space Pete]

The war medal of a Vietnam hero who was killed in combat will be launched into space by Doug Wheelock on Soyuz TMA-19.
www.wicz.com/news2005/viewarticle.asp?a=13832

Here's a photo of the medal inside the Soyuz from Doug Wheelock via Twitter.

[Cbased]

New photos:
http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=11127

[Cbased]

According to this:
http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=11126

Soyuz TMA-19 launch will be 100th launch made as part of the ISS program (station building, crew rotation etc)

[Danderman]

I saw a note that an ISS reboost of 7.5 km occurred yesterday. I'm confused because there was a DEBOOST (~1.5 km by a Soyuz) earlier in the week in preparation for the TMA-19 docking.  Can someone explain the logic because this seems like a waste of valuable prop.  I know orbital mechanics can be complicated but I'm really confused

Deboost by a Soyuz? Really?

[Olaf]

Deboost by a Soyuz? Really?

The mentioned deboost was done by "four DPO engines of Progress M-05M cargo ship."

[Space Pete]

Some hi-res photos of the rollout & erection are now up at the NASA HQ Photo Expedition 24 Flickr gallery.

www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157624071218639

[Space Pete]

Per Robert Pearlman of collectSPACE, Soyuz TMA-19 will be the 100th rocket to launch to the ISS!

[Chris Bergin]

Moved for live coverage

[Nicolas PILLET]

According to my list, it will be "only" the 99th...

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/vaisseaux/mks/missions/tous.html

Who is right ??

[hop]

According to my list, it will be "only" the 99th...

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/vaisseaux/mks/missions/tous.html

Who is right ??

I don't see HTV on your list ?

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-19 Flight Day 1 Overview (All Times GMT).

Launch timeline:
. 9:35:19 PM: Launch (ISS phase angle 259 deg).
. 9:37:11 PM: Launch Escape System jettison; ~46 km altitude, ~115 km downrange.
. 9:37:12 PM: First stage (4 strap-ons) separation; ~49 km; ~118 km; 1.76 km/s velocity.
. 9:37:57 PM: Launch shroud jettison; ~84 km; ~165 km; 2.04 km/s.
. 9:40:04 PM: Second stage (core) separation; ~167 km; ~288 km; ~3.88 km/s.
. 9:40:46 PM: Third stage lower skirt jettison.
. 9:44:04 PM: Third stage shutdown; orbital insertion; ~202 km; ~520km; 7.50 km/s.
. 9:44:07 PM: Spacecraft separation from third stage; perigee ~195 km; apogee ~239km.
. 9:44:15 PM: Program 4: Deployment of solar arrays & antennas.

After orbital insertion:
. Pressurization of prop tanks and filling of Soyuz manifolds.
. Docking probe extended.
. 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 (1:37:22 AM Wed. 16).
. DV2 burn (2:08:58 AM Wed. 16).
. Soyuz back in ISK attitude.
. Crew clean & dry Sokols.
. Crew sleep (~5:15 AM Wed. 16).

[Satori]

Images of the cosmonauts leaving the hotel... and conference before launch...

[Satori]

Presentation to the Governmental Comission...

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

11A511U-FG Soyuz-FG (Б15000-032) with Soyuz TMA-19 at the PU-5 LC1 launch complex...

[Satori]

[Satori]

Cosmonauts will arrive at the launch pad shortly...

[Satori]

Convoy with cosmonauts...

[Satori]

Cosmonauts arriving...

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

The crew is now boarding the Soyuz TMA-19...

[Silmfeanor]

source for these images?
NasaTV shows me a conference of sorts.

[Satori]

[Satori]

source for these images?
NasaTV shows me a conference of sorts.

http://webcaster.rutube.ru:8000/3311850?format=flv

[Satori]

Cosmonauts bus is now heading away from the launch complex...

[Satori]

[cd-slam]

source for these images?
NasaTV shows me a conference of sorts.

NASA TV coverage will start at 4:45pm EDT.

[Mapperuo]

Odd question but I can't for the life of me find a tracking map for it.

Does anyone have a map of where the launch will take the rocket? Curious if I'll see it from where I live.

Thanks.

[Satori]

[Nicolas PILLET]

According to my list, it will be "only" the 99th...

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/vaisseaux/mks/missions/tous.html

Who is right ??

I don't see HTV on your list ?

Oops... 

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Good work Rui. 20 mins to NTV coverage.

[Chris Bergin]

Article for the launch, including a some nice comments and photos from Col. Wheelock.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/06/live-soyuz-tma-19-launch-to-iss/

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

People on the service tower...

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

I've lost my VLC feed... can someone else post images?

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

Crew:

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

Service tower moving away from the rocket...

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

NTV showing prelaunch activities:

[Ronsmytheiii]

LV and S/C overview:

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

Recorders should be activating and gyros uncaged, Launch minus 10 minutes

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

Starting automated countdown

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

helmets closed, CDR controls activated

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

range clear for launch, fuel tanks pressurizing

[Ronsmytheiii]

L minus 2 minutes, LV to internal power

[Ronsmytheiii]

N2 purging engines

[Ronsmytheiii]

ISS crew watching live

[Satori]

LAUNCH!!!! (NASA lag is tremendous!)

[Ronsmytheiii]

umbilical tower moving away

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Chris Bergin]

Good first stage performance.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

Separation

[Chris Bergin]

2 to 2.5Gs reported at MaxQ.

[Chris Bergin]

Staging: 1-2 Sep.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Escape tower/Launch shroud jettison

[Chris Bergin]

LAS jettison.

[Ronsmytheiii]

L + 4 minutes

[Ronsmytheiii]

Second stage separation/ Third stage ignition

[Ronsmytheiii]

Wow, beautiful view

[Chris Bergin]

9,000 mph.

[Ronsmytheiii]

ISS crew watching:

[Chris Bergin]

HA! Nice reaction from the ISS crew when they saw themselves on the coverage.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

Third stage cutoff/ Spacecraft separation

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

MECO and Final Staging.

[Ronsmytheiii]

solar arrays deployed

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Satori]

[John44]

Expedition 24 - Launch
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6055

[Space Pete]

Awesome launch!

The Soyuz callsign was "Olympus".
The mascot/0-G indicator was a puppy, making its second spaceflight with Fyodor Yurchikhin.
www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9596&lang=en

[NotGncDude]

Man, that Soyuz is so safe

[John44]

Expedition 24 - Launch Replays
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6056

[Danderman]

Man, that Soyuz is so safe

Don't jinx it.

 

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-143

NEW SPACE STATION CREW MEMBERS LAUNCH FROM KAZAKHSTAN

HOUSTON -- NASA astronauts Doug Wheelock and Shannon Walker and
Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin launched to the International
Space Station aboard their Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft at 4:35 p.m. CDT
Tuesday (3:35 a.m. Wednesday local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in Kazakhstan.

Wheelock, Walker and Soyuz commander Yurchikhin are scheduled to dock
with their new home at 5:25 p.m. Thursday, June 17. They will join
Expedition 24 crewmates Tracy Caldwell Dyson, a NASA astronaut, and
Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov, the station commander, and
Mikhail Kornienko aboard the orbiting laboratory.

On Thursday, coverage of the Soyuz docking will begin on NASA
Television at 5 p.m. NASA TV will return at 9 p.m. for coverage of
the hatches opening and the welcoming ceremony aboard the station.
For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


During Expedition 24, the six-person crew will continue scientific
research investigations and station maintenance activities. On June
28, Yurchikhin, Wheelock and Walker will climb back into their Soyuz
spacecraft and move it to the newly-delivered Mini-Research Module-1,
or Rassvet.

The mission also includes three spacewalks, one conducted by Russian
cosmonauts Yurchikhin and Kornienko on July 26 and two by NASA
astronauts Wheelock and Caldwell Dyson on Aug. 5 and 17.

Skvortsov, Caldwell Dyson and Kornienko, who launched to the station
on April 2, are scheduled to return to Earth on Sept. 24. Before
departing, Skvortsov will hand over command of the station to
Wheelock for Expedition 25, which begins when the Soyuz TMA-18
undocks Sept. 24.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Kaleri and
Oleg Skripochka will join Wheelock, Walker and Yurchikhin in orbit on
Oct. 10 to complete the Expedition 25 crew. Their launch is set for
Oct. 8.

Expedition 24/25 crew member Walker will blog about her experiences in
orbit. To find her blog and for more information about the space
station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station


To follow Twitter updates from Expedition 24/25 crew member Wheelock,
visit:



http://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels

       
-end-

[jacqmans]

launch photos:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=11170

[jacqmans]

The 100th Launch in the ISS Program - Soyuz TMA-19 Autonomous Mission
16.06.2010

Today at 01:35:19 Moscow time Soyuz-FG rocket with the Soyuz TMA-19 crew vehicle atop blasted off with was launched from Gagarin`s launch pad, Baikonur.
Soyuz-FG rocket orbited the vehicle to LEO with the following parameters:
• min altitude – 200,16 km;
• max altitude – 259,16 km;
• revolution – 88,80 min;
• inclination– 51,62 deg.

Moscow MCC began controlling the vehicle after its separation from the last stage of the rocket.

Telemetry data confirm nominal status of the vehicle. Soyuz TMA-19 is planned to dock to the ISS on June 18, at 02:325 Moscow time.
The Soyuz is commanded by Fyodor Yurchikhin, with Douglas Wheelock and Shannon Walker as flight engineers.
This was the 100th launch in the ISS program.


Roscosmos PAO
http://www.roscosmos.ru

[Space Pete]

Here's some hi-res launch photos from NASA HQ Photo's Flickr account:


Hi-res version: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1303/4705356627_3413bea56a_o.jpg


Hi-res version: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4705356305_159cc25d38_o.jpg


Hi-res version: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4705356219_4cd53fda30_o.jpg


Hi-res version: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4705356417_2b57709864_o.jpg

[Space Pete]

This occurred to me last night: Now that Shannon Walker is on-orbit, all the NASA Group 19 (Class of 2004) astronauts have flown in space (although JAXA's Satoshi Furukawa still remains to fly – he is assigned to Expedition 28/29 from May to Nov. 2011)!

-----
EDIT:

And just as a note - it seems that former NASA astronaut Dr. Scott Parazynski reads NSF - check out the link in his blog entry!
http://parazynski.com/blog/2010/06/my-buddy-wheels-is-safely-back-on-orbit

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-19/23S is the first Soyuz flight in history with two Americans and one Russian aboard!

Soyuz TMA-19/23S Flight Plan Overview (All Times GMT):

Flight Day 2 (16/06):
. Post-sleep activities.
. Prepare BO workstation.
. Uplink data for DV3 burn.
. Crew tests RUO-2 & RUD-2 rotational and translational hand controllers.
. Crew establishes DV3 attitude with hand controllers.
. Execute DV3 burn (~9:31 PM).
. Soyuz back in ISK attitude.
. Crew swaps CO2 filters in BO.
. Crew sleep.

Flight Day 3 (17/06):
. Post-sleep activities.
. DV4 (~8:23 PM).
. KURS-A heaters activated (~8:48 PM).
. Data for automated rendezvous uplinked.
. Crew dons Sokols.
. SOA deactivated in BO and activated in SA.
. Crew ingresses SA, closes BO-SA hatch and dons harnesses for docking.
. DV5 burn (~9:07 PM).
. Automated rendezvous & docking at SM aft port via KURS-P in ISS & KURS-A in Soyuz.
. Docking (~10:25 PM).
. Pressure equalized between Soyuz and ISS.
. Crew transfers.

[anik]

Soyuz TMA-19/23S is the first Soyuz flight in history with two Americans and one Russian aboard!

Please attend! Soyuz TMA-7, Soyuz TMA-9, Soyuz TMA-13, Soyuz TMA-14. Also think about Soyuz relocations.

[Nicolas PILLET]

Soyuz TMA-19/23S is the first Soyuz flight in history with two Americans and one Russian aboard!

No, there was :

- Soyuz TMA-14 (Padalka, Barratt, Simonyi)
- Soyuz TMA-13 (Lontchakov, Fincke, Garriott)
- Soyuz TMA-9 (Tiurin, Lopez-Alegria, Ansari)
- Soyuz TMA-7 (Tokarev, McArthur, Olsen)

But this is the first flight with one Russian cosmonaut and two NASA astronauts !

[anik]

But this is the first flight with one Russian cosmonaut and two NASA astronauts!

You forgot about Soyuz relocations.

[Space Pete]

But this is the first flight with one Russian cosmonaut and two NASA astronauts!

You forgot about Soyuz relocations.

Okay then, shall we say that Soyuz TMA-19/23S was the first Soyuz launch in history with one Russian and two NASA astronauts aboard!

[Space Pete]

Just a reminder: Soyuz TMA-19/23S will dock to the Aft port of the ISS's Zvezda Service Module tonight at 6:25 PM EDT/10:25 PM GMT.

-----

Soyuz TMA-19 + the Soyuz-FG third stage imaged from ground camera:

[Space Pete]

Now 35 minutes until docking, NASA TV coverage has started.

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 17/06/2010:

After the Soyuz docking at the SM Aft port, crew activities will include:
. CDR Alexander Skvortsov switching hatch KVDs (Pressure Equalization Valves/PEVs)
  between SM & Soyuz back to electric control mode.
. FE-3 Kornienko downlinking the TEKh-15/DAKON-M IZGIB ("Bend")
  structural dynamics measurements and close out the data take.
. The CDR reconfiguring station comm (STTS) for the nominal
  post-docking hardline mode (MBS).
. Skvortsov supporting Elektron O2 generator reactivation by
  TsUP-Moscow by throwing a switch and monitoring the external
  temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10
  minutes of operations to ensure that there was no overheating.

After clamp installation (with thrusters disabled from 12:10 AM to 2:23 AM GMT Fri. 18/06) and leak checking (12:10 AM to 1:25 AM GMT), hatch opening is expected to take place at about 1:25 AM GMT.

The newcomers, FE-4 Doug "Wheels" Wheelock, FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin & FE-6 Shannon Walker, will then join CDR Skvortsov, FE-3 Kornienko & FE-2 Caldwell-Dyson for the obligatory ISS Safety Briefing, to familiarize them with procedures and escape routes in case of an emergency.

Other pre-sleeptime activities by the (now six) crewmembers will include:
. Doug Wheelock preparing his CQ (Crew Quarters) in the
  Node 2 Starboard 5 location (e.g., inspection, cleaning as required,
  retrieving clothing & sleeping bag CTBs (Cargo Transfer Bags),
  installing sleeping bag on wall, setting up personal effects, etc.).
. Fyodor Yurchikhin deactivating his docked Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft.
. Wheelock & Walker donning their Actiwatches to join Caldwell-Dyson in
  the SLEEP experiment.
. Fyodor Yurchikhin setting up the three Sokol spacesuits and their
  gloves for drying out.

[Ronsmytheiii]

ISS crew and TMA-19 crew now communicating with one another,

[Chris Bergin]

NTV is live coverage, but I have a horrendous lag at the moment.

[mtakala24]

They don't have live images, yet.

[Chris Bergin]

Into the flyaround. Final approach in about five minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

200 meters.

[Chris Bergin]

There's Soyuz!

[Chris Bergin]

Soyuz into a roll maneuver.

[Chris Bergin]

Final Approach, ahead of the timeline. Not unusual.

[Chris Bergin]

140 meters.

[Chris Bergin]

[Ronsmytheiii]

no FOD on Docking port

[Chris Bergin]

[Ronsmytheiii]

sunset 1-2 minutes

[Ronsmytheiii]

in alignment

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

contact capture, official 5:21 PM Houston time

[Chris Bergin]

Sounds like they had a misalignment, but in the range (allowable) and they have contact!

[MikeMi.]

Sounds like they had a misalignment, but in the range (allowable) and they have contact!

Indeed, heard that too - first time and I was curious if there are problems but seems that everything is okay.

[Space Pete]

Awesome docking!

Hatch opening will be at 9:25 PM EDT Thu./1:25 AM GMT Fri.

[MikeMi.]

Conference in progress.

Gerstenmeier was also here

[Space Pete]

Hatch opening coverage has started on NASA TV.

[aquarius]

The hatches were opened at 8:52 PM EDT.

[aquarius]

Some mildly colorful language from one of the Russian cosmonauts.

[Ronsmytheiii]

everything in place for PAO

[Ronsmytheiii]

troubleshooting camera for downlink

[Ronsmytheiii]

crew is back in soyuz and closed hatch for "official opening" as soon as ku is back will start

[Ronsmytheiii]

Ku returns, looking from SM to Soyuz aft hatch

[Space Pete]

Some mildly colorful language from one of the Russian cosmonauts.

Yes, I thought I heard that, but I wasn't sure!

[Ronsmytheiii]

Sasha Opening the hatch, TMA-19 crew now officially on station

[Space Pete]

It looks like they have removed the SM galley table.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Have eto love the Soyuz clothing, crew setting up for press conference

[Space Pete]

Gerst & Mike Coats are there!

[Space Pete]

Astronaut Cady Coleman just spoke to the crew.

[Alpha Control]

I'm enjoying the crew conference & welcome. Lots of humorous remarks from Gerst, Coats, & the Russian program director, and some touching remarks from family members, particularly Fyodor's.

[Space Pete]

The welcome ceremony has now ended. And that's that - the ISS is back up to a 6 person crew - the first ever long-duration crew to include 2 women!

I think Mike Coats might have gone to Russia just to get away from JSC for a while!

[Alpha Control]

I got quite a chuckle, during a slight lull after most everyone had taken turns to speak.  MCC-M says "We've heard from mostly the men. How about the women?"

Crewmember (probably Fyodor) says "Shannon's already talked, Tracy, I think we've all talked."

MCC-M says "Well put a women on, if you can find a third one up there!" 
 

[John44]

 Expedition 24 - Docking to the ISS
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6058

Expedition 24 - Post-Docking News Conference
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6059

Expedition 24 - Hatch Opening and Welcoming Ceremony
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6060

[Space Pete]

Here's the NASA TV docking & hatch opening video.

[Space Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 18/06/2010:

Soyuz TMA-19/23S docked successfully to the SM Aft port yesterday evening at 10:21 PM GMT, 4 minutes ahead of schedule. After about 2 hours 30 minutes spent in the Soyuz on pre-transfer activities, the hatches were opened at 12:52 AM Fri. 18/06 and the crew transferred to the ISS. This was followed by the installation of the BZV QD clamps of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) by CDR Skvortsov to rigidize the joint.
[The Soyuz TV system was activated at ~9:45 PM GMT and final approach on automatic KURS pilot began at ~10:12 PM GMT. Shortly after "kasaniya" (contact), automatic "sborka" (closing of Soyuz & SM Aft port hooks & latches) took place at 10:31 PM GMT with ISS in free drift. Attitude control authority had been handed over to the Russian MCS (Motion Control System) thrusters at ~6:50 PM GMT and returned to US CMG control at ~11:20 PM GMT. For the docking, Russian thrusters were disabled (11:20 PM to 12:20 AM GMT) during Soyuz volume pressurization & clamp installation and afterwards returned to active attitude control. Before hatch opening, the crew performed leak checks of the Soyuz modules and the Soyuz/SM interface vestibule. The Soyuz TMA-19 crew then doffed their Sokol suits, and Yurchikhin set suits and gloves up for drying. Yurchikhin also deactivated the BOA/Atmosphere Purification Unit in the SA/Descent Module, replaced the Soyuz ECLSS LiOH cartridges, equalized Soyuz/ISS pressures, and put the spacecraft into conservation mode on ISS integrated power. Note: Prior to the rendezvous the Soyuz crew reported several discrepancies that occurred with the Neptune display panel, including erroneously illuminated command selection frames on KSP formats, slight differences in times between MCS (Motion Control System) display and InPU (Integrated Control Panel) displays, display characters being partially cut off at the top of the display, and erratic display performance plus subsequent automatic reset following sensor calibration. Specialists will be reviewing these discrepancies.]

Following the safety briefing, FE-4 Wheelock & FE-6 Walker prepared their CQs (Crew Quarters), Doug in the Node 2 Starboard 5 location and Shannon in the JPM Deck 3 location.
CQ locations for the other four crewmembers are:
. CDR Alexander = SM Port.
. FE-2 Tracy = Node 2 Port 5.
. FE-3 Mikhail = Node 2 Overhead 5.
. FE-5 Fyodor = SM Starboard.
Since Wheelock’s & Walker’s CQ have no ATU (Audio Terminal Unit), Doug & Shannon need to be alerted by a crewmate in case of a CW (Caution/Warning) event when asleep.

Before "calling it a day", Wheelock & Walker put on their Actiwatches to join Caldwell-Dyson in the post-wakeup experiment SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight), their first. [To monitor his/her sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the crewmember wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him/her as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition, using the payload software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment’s laptop session file on the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility-1) laptop. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.]

[steveS]

What did they say?

Some mildly colorful language from one of the Russian cosmonauts.

Yes, I thought I heard that, but I wasn't sure!

[Space Pete]

What did they say?

Some mildly colorful language from one of the Russian cosmonauts.

Yes, I thought I heard that, but I wasn't sure!

I don't think I can post it here!

[Space Pete]

Here's some photos of the hatch opening & welcome ceremony.


Hi-res version: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-24/hires/iss024e006205.jpg


Hi-res version: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-24/hires/iss024e006182.jpg


Hi-res version: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-24/hires/iss024e006194.jpg


Hi-res version: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-24/hires/iss024e006213.jpg

[Space Pete]

From Doug Wheelock via Twitter - Soyuz TMA-19 approaches the SM Aft port.