LIVE: Soyuz-FG/Soyuz TMA-20 Launch and Docking - December 15/17, 2010

[aquarius]

About Delivery of Soyuz TMA-20 Descent Capsule to Baikonur.

Descent capsule for the Soyuz TMA-20 vehicle has arrived today at Baikonur’s RSC-Energia subsidiary. The capsule is intended as a replacement for the one of the Soyuz, for which the anomalies had been found during incoming inspection at the space port.
The decision to make the replacement was made following the conclusion by the accident commission set up by RSC-Energia president Vitaly Lopota.
Currently, Soyuz TMA-20 habitable, instrumentation and descent compartments are demated. The experts also prepare for further assembly and tests in line with the schedule, with three-shift work of personnel, together with Energia experts who followed the descent capsule during the shipment.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10567&lang=en

From the Russian version of this item: "Currently in RSC Energia there are about 30 Soyuz TMA spacecraft in various stages of development."

Is that a correct number? I thought it was too many, for the next 7 years or so.

Could that include Progress? 6x Progress and 4x Soyuz per year?

No, it says Soyuz TMA.

So it must be a mistake, right?

[patchfree]

No it's not a mistake. Why?

Note that they were at different stages of building. A soyouz needs around three years to be produced and assembled. The limiting phase of production is making the thermal shield  of the descent module. Up to the recent period the production capacity of such a shield was limited to 4 a year.

And the soyouz vehicle will be in operation until a least 2020.

[patchfree]

October 15, 2010
In the assembly and testing facility spacecraft (spacecraft processing) of a branch of the Baikonur work is continuing on schedule for the preparation of the Soyuz TMA-20.
Specialists from RSC Energia completed on the ship replacement capsule (SA) on CA, delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and two days ago.
Currently works on the connection of electrical connectors and pneumatichydraulic between CA and the instrument-aggregation and living compartment are carried out verification of electrical circuits and pnevmogidromagistraley ship.
Work carried out in accordance with the approved schedule.

Reference:

CA Soyuz TMA-20, derived from it, returned to the RSC Energia. The specialists of the Corporation and related companies analyze the status and operability of the design and onboard systems SA, which resulted in a decision on its further use.

 

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=13145
and http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss26/photo_10-15.html


 

[Nicolas PILLET]

19th october : leak checks for the docking system.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss26/photo_10-19.html

20nd october : testing of the whole spacecraft in the 17T523M vaccum chamber.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss26/photo_10-20.html

[jacqmans]

Workers Race to Replace Damaged Soyuz Crew Capsule

21.10.2010


Responding to unexplained damage to a piece of the next Soyuz spacecraft, the Russian builder of the capsule has shipped a replacement descent module to Kazakhstan for preparations to launch the next three-person crew to the International Space Station in December.

Russian officials ordered the unusual swapout after technicians discovered a problem with the descent module of the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft when it was unloaded after a train trip from its factory to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according to Energia, the capsule's contractor.
A Russian cosmonaut and U.S. and Italian astronauts were supposed to strap into the Soyuz capsule Dec. 13 for a two-day ride to the space station. The descent module is the only part of the spacecraft that returns to Earth with space crews.
Engineers believe the module was damaged during the rail journey from Russia to Kazakhstan.
Energia dispatched another crew compartment to the remote Kazakhstan space base last week, this time aboard a Russian cargo plane. 
For now, launch is still scheduled for Dec. 13 at 1956 GMT (2:56 p.m. EST). The Soyuz will carry Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev, U.S. astronaut Catherine Coleman and Italian space flier Paolo Nespoli for five months on the space station.
The three-person crew will dock to the complex Dec. 15, assuming liftoff remains set for Dec. 13.
According to Energia, about 30 Soyuz spacecraft are in different phases of production.
Technicians are working in three shifts to assemble and test the spacecraft for the next mission at Baikonur, the Soyuz contractor said in an Oct. 12 statement, Spaceflight Now reports.

RSC-Energia yesterday informed about initiation of the Soyuz TMA-20 leak check scheduled to last through Oct. 22. 

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss26/photo_10-20.html

[anik]

The launch is officially delayed to December 15th.

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-20 Prelaunch Processing Continues at Baikonur.

Soyuz TMA-20 assembly and processing activities are in good progress as scheduled in the space vehicle assembly and testing facility.
Vacuum tests of the vehicle have been completed successfully, with no Soyuz  leak detected.
Further vehicle assembly and processing operations are performed according to the approved schedule.
Experts prepare Soyuz TMA-20 for electrical tests of its systems, which are to begin on Oct. 27.

Photos: www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10644&lang=en

[Space Pete]

Soyuz-FG Prelaunch Processing Begins at Baikonur.

Soyuz-FG prelaunch processing begаn at Baikonur.
TSKB-Progress and TSENKI subsidiary- Yuzhny Space Center commenced operations with Soyuz-FG which is scheduled to orbit Soyuz TMA-20 on Dec. 15, 2010.
The stages are accommodated in the test benches, for further pneumatic tests. Once the tests of the first and second stages stack are over, the rocket will be put in storage until next stage of testing in December.

Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10694&lang=en

[Space Pete]

Baikonur: The Second Stage of Soyuz-FG under Assembly.

Soyuz-FG prelaunch processing continues at Baikonur.
TSKB-Progress and TSENKI subsidiary- Yuzhny Space Center commenced operations with Soyuz-FG which is scheduled to orbit Soyuz TMA-20 on Dec. 15, 2010.
The second stage of the rocket is assembled today.  Once assembly and tests of the first and second stages are over, the rocket will be put in storage until next stage of testing in December.
The vehicle undergoes processing at the integration and test facility, site 254. Today, Kurs tests are carried out.
 
Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10699&lang=en

[Stan Black]

Baikonur: The Second Stage of Soyuz-FG under Assembly.

Soyuz-FG prelaunch processing continues at Baikonur.
TSKB-Progress and TSENKI subsidiary- Yuzhny Space Center commenced operations with Soyuz-FG which is scheduled to orbit Soyuz TMA-20 on Dec. 15, 2010.
The second stage of the rocket is assembled today.  Once assembly and tests of the first and second stages are over, the rocket will be put in storage until next stage of testing in December.
The vehicle undergoes processing at the integration and test facility, site 254. Today, Kurs tests are carried out.
 
Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10699&lang=en

 Blok A is the central core of the lower cluster of 5 stages of the Soyuz rocket. It operates during both 1st and 2nd stage burns. It is delivered in two pieces.

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-20 Prelaunch Processing Goes on at Baikonur.

Soyuz-FG/Soyuz TMA-20 assembly and processing activities are in good progress at Baikonur.
TsSKB-Progress and Yuzhny Space Center perform integration of the Soyuz-FG package.
Soyuz TMA-20 undergoes standalone system testing.
The launch is scheduled for Dec. 15.

Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10744&lang=en

[Stan Black]

About Delivery of Soyuz TMA-20 Descent Capsule to Baikonur.

Descent capsule for the Soyuz TMA-20 vehicle has arrived today at Baikonur’s RSC-Energia subsidiary. The capsule is intended as a replacement for the one of the Soyuz, for which the anomalies had been found during incoming inspection at the space port.
The decision to make the replacement was made following the conclusion by the accident commission set up by RSC-Energia president Vitaly Lopota.
Currently, Soyuz TMA-20 habitable, instrumentation and descent compartments are demated. The experts also prepare for further assembly and tests in line with the schedule, with three-shift work of personnel, together with Energia experts who followed the descent capsule during the shipment.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10567&lang=en

From the Russian version of this item: "Currently in RSC Energia there are about 30 Soyuz TMA spacecraft in various stages of development."

Is that a correct number? I thought it was too many, for the next 7 years or so.

Could that include Progress? 6x Progress and 4x Soyuz per year?

No, it says Soyuz TMA.

So it must be a mistake, right?

From Energia annual report

Development and the production	2007	2008	2009	2010 Plan
Soyuz	7	9	12	14
Progress	13	14+1	19	13

http://www.e-disclosure.ru/portal/files.aspx?id=1615&type=6

[Danderman]

30 Soyuz/Progress under development makes sense, since 10 are supposed to fly a year, and the construction probably takes 18 months to 2 years for each one. That would mean that in any one year, 30 such vehicles would be in some stage of construction.

[jacqmans]

Paolo Nespoli in Milano, at the Museo della Tecnica, on 7 November 2010

It was the last and only chance for ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli to talk about the mission highlights in his home country before the launch of his MagISStra mission in mid-December.

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMR9LCR5GG_index_mg_1.html

[jacqmans]

A greenhouse in space
 
9 November 2010
It's small, but it's a greenhouse for space voyagers and for you. Paolo Nespoli will take a special greenhouse with him to the International Space Station and he's inviting young science enthusiasts to conduct an experiment with him.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMBGZ4PVFG_index_0.html

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-20 Standalone Tests Successfully Completed at Baikonur.

Soyuz-FG/Soyuz TMA-20 assembly and processing activities are in good progress at Baikonur.
RSC-Energia and Yuzhny Space Center had successfully completed standalone tests of the vehicle’s systems and initiated integrated tests.
The launch is scheduled for Dec. 15, at 10.06 MSK. Soyuz TMA-20 is to deliver 3 crew to the International Space Station.
 
Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10812&lang=en

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-164

NASA TELEVISION WILL AIR NEXT SOYUZ LAUNCH

HOUSTON -- NASA Television will air the preparation, launch and docking of the newest trio of station residents three weeks later.

On Dec. 15, Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratyev, NASA Flight Engineer
Cady Coleman and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli
will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in the Soyuz
TMA-20 spacecraft (Dec. 16 Baikonur time). They will join NASA
Expedition 26 Commander Scott Kelly and Russian Flight Engineers
Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka, who have been aboard the
station since early October.

NASA TV will air a video file on Nov. 26 that will include a prelaunch
news conference by Kondratyev, Coleman and Nespoli at the Gagarin
Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, and their tour of Red
Square in Moscow.

The scheduled landing, launch and docking coverage and events include
(all times CST):

Friday, November 26
Noon -- Video file of Soyuz TMA-20 crew news conference at the Gagarin
Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia, and tour of Red Square
in Moscow, Russia
Friday, December 3
11 a.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 crew departure ceremonies at
the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia
Friday, December 10
11 a.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 crew activities in Baikonur,
Kazakhstan
Monday, December 13
11 a.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 crew activities in Baikonur,
Kazakhstan, and Soyuz TMA-20 vehicle mating and rollout to the launch
pad
Tuesday, December 14
4 p.m. -- Video file of the Soyuz TMA-20 State Commission and final
pre-launch news conference in Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Wednesday, December 15
11:30 a.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 crew pre-launch activities in Baikonur,
Kazakhstan
12:15 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 launch (launch at 1:09 p.m.)
3 p.m. - Video file of Soyuz TMA-20 pre-launch activities and launch
from Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Friday, December 17
1:30 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 docking to ISS (docking at 2:09 p.m.,
followed by post-docking news conference)
4:30 p.m. -- Soyuz TMA-20 hatch opening and welcoming ceremony (hatch
opening at approximately 5 p.m.)
6:30 p.m. -- Video file of Soyuz TMA-20 docking, hatch opening and
welcoming ceremony

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



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about the space station, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/station   


-end-

[TALsite]

Soyuz TMA-20 Crew Exams
http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10823

On Nov. 24-25, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center will host two-day exam session for the prime and backup crews of the Soyuz TMA-20 vehicle scheduled to fly to the International Space Station on Dec. 15.
 Prime crew- Russian Dmitry Kondratiev, US Catherine Calleman, ESA’s Paolo Nespoli - will pass through their integrated training in the ISS simulator on Nov. 24. Their backup Anatoly Ivanishin, Satoshi Furukawa, Michael Fossum will be examined in the Soyuz mockup on the same day.
The crews to swap on Nov.25.
The examination board is to conclude about crew readiness to fly upon the results of the integrated training sessions.
....

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-20 Prelaunch Processing Continues at Baikonur.

Soyuz TMA-20 testing / processing activities are in good progress at Baikonur.
In line with the schedule, RSC-Energia carried out autonomous tests of the vehicle’s systems and integrated tests, Kurs docking system testing in acoustic chamber, and final electrical checks on Oct. 27- Nov. 21.
Vacuum tests of the vehicle will last till Nov. 26.
The launch is scheduled for Dec. 15, at 10.06 MSK. Soyuz TMA-20 is to deliver 3 crew to the International Space Station.
 
Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10880&lang=en

[Space Pete]

Soyuz TMA-20 Crew Exams to Take Place at GCTC Today.

On Nov. 24-25, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center will host two-day exam session for the prime and backup crews of the Soyuz TMA-20 vehicle scheduled to fly to the International Space Station on Dec. 15.
 Prime crew- Russian Dmitry Kondratiev, US Catherine Calleman, ESA’s Paolo Nespoli - will pass through their integrated training in the ISS simulator on Nov. 24. Their backup Anatoly Ivanishin, Satoshi Furukawa, Michael Fossum will be examined in the Soyuz mockup on the same day.
The crews to swap on Nov.25.
The examination board is to conclude about crew readiness to fly upon the results of the integrated training sessions.
On Nov. 26, journalists will get to opportunity to question Soyuz TMA-20 crews at their preflight press conference.

Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10883&lang=en