LIVE: Soyuz-U launch - Progress M-15M docking - April 20-22, 2012

[anik]

Progress M-15M cargo ship has been delivered to Baikonur cosmodrome.

[Nicolas PILLET]

And today, the spaceship was extracted from its transport container.

[Danderman]

The news article from Roskosmos about the delivery of Progress M-15M:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=18713

[anik]

The launch will be from 31/6.

[Nicolas PILLET]

In MIK-40 (Area 31), the launcher is readied.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=18838

[Lewis007]

Roscosmos video of Progress M-15M launch processing

[Satori]

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
The Technical Management meeting took place, which made a decision to fuel Progress M-15M cargo vehicle with propellant components and compressed gases.

[Danderman]

Progress M-15M Prop Tanks Being Filled per Roskosmos

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=18924

[Satori]

Fuelled Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Progress M-15M cargo 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/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-12.html

[Satori]

A transfer compartment was docked with Progress M-15M cargo vehicle

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Progress M-15M transport cargo vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-13.html

[anik]

The launch is planned at 12:50:24 UTC on April 20th.

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-069

NASA TELEVISION TO AIR MOVEMENTS OF SPACE STATION CARGO SHIPS

HOUSTON -- NASA Television will broadcast the departure of one Russian
Progress cargo ship from the International Space Station (ISS) and
the arrival of another beginning on Thursday, April 19.

ISS Progress 46, which arrived at the station in January and has been
filled with trash for disposal, will undock from the Pirs docking
compartment at 6:03 a.m. CDT April 19. Russian flight controllers
will command the resupply ship to leave the station for several days
of tests, then send it to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere over the
Pacific Ocean. NASA TV coverage of undocking will begin at 5:45 a.m.

At 7:50 a.m. on April 20, the ISS Progress 47 cargo craft will launch
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, loaded with 2.5 tons of
food, fuel and supplies for the six crew members aboard the orbiting
laboratory. NASA TV coverage of launch will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA and his five crewmates
will monitor events as the Progress 47 automatically docks to the
Pirs docking compartment at 9:40 a.m. Sunday, April 22. NASA TV
coverage of the Progress's arrival at the station will begin at 9
a.m.

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



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

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

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[Satori]

Designers inspection of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle and payload shroud roll were performed

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Designers inspection of the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was completed.

Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was performed.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-14.html

[Satori]

The orbital module of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle transportation for the general integration with LV

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Orbital module of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, containing Progress M-15M spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-16.html

[Danderman]

Designers inspection of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle and payload shroud roll were performed

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Designers inspection of the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was completed.

Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was performed.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-14.html

So, what's the big round white antenna on the front of this Progress? I wonder if this is a Kurs-MM antenna?

[Satori]

LV Soyuz general integration is completed

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Orbital module of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, containing Progress M-15M spacecraft was integrated with the Soyuz-U launch vehicle in the processing facility.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-17.html

[Satori]

State Commission gave green light for the transport of the Soyuz-U with the Progress M-15M to the launch complex: http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=18968 (in Russian).

[Stan Black]

Designers inspection of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle and payload shroud roll were performed

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Designers inspection of the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was completed.

Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was performed.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-14.html

So, what's the big round white antenna on the front of this Progress? I wonder if this is a Kurs-MM antenna?

So any other upgrades like solar panels or Синица-2?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25732.0
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23203.0

[Danderman]

Designers inspection of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle and payload shroud roll were performed

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Designers inspection of the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was completed.

Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-15M cargo vehicle was performed.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-14.html

So, what's the big round white antenna on the front of this Progress? I wonder if this is a Kurs-MM antenna?

So any other upgrades like solar panels or Синица-2?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25732.0
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23203.0

According to NK magazine, the enhanced solar panels were to be flown on Soyuz TMA-03M.

[Satori]

LV Soyuz rollout to the launch pad

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-15M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Soyuz-U launch vehicle was rolled out from the integration building to the launch pad. Soyuz-U launch vehicle with Progress M-15M transport vehicle is installed on the launch pad. L-2 days activities have been started.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss30/progress_m-15m/photo_04-18.html