LIVE: Soyuz-FG launch and Soyuz TMA-06M docking - October 23-25, 2012

[jacqmans]

[jacqmans]

October 12, 2012.

 Fuelled SC Soyuz TMA-06M was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-06M transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Soyuz TMA-06M 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/iss33/photo_10-12.html

[jacqmans]

Soyuz TMA-06M back-up crew...

[jacqmans]

October 14, 2012.
 A transfer compartment was docked with SC Soyuz TMA-06M

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-06M transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

A transfer compartment was docked with Soyuz TMA-06M transport manned vehicle in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss33/photo_10-14.html

[Stan Black]

The 11A511U-FG Soyuz-FG launch vehicle for the Soyuz TMA-06M launch, arrived to Baykonur on March 4th: http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=18760 (in Russian).

This launch vehicle was in fact used for the launch of Soyuz TMA-05M (the Roscosmos announcement was in error when mentioning that the launcher was for Soyuz TMA-06M)

Rui,

You list rocket Л15000-044 on your website however the fairing is Л15000-060? The serial numbers run in sequence and 060 implies rocket 040.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss33/im/photo_10-14-10.jpg

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17286.msg929713#msg929713

[Satori]

The 11A511U-FG Soyuz-FG launch vehicle for the Soyuz TMA-06M launch, arrived to Baykonur on March 4th: http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=18760 (in Russian).

This launch vehicle was in fact used for the launch of Soyuz TMA-05M (the Roscosmos announcement was in error when mentioning that the launcher was for Soyuz TMA-06M)

Rui,

You list rocket Л15000-044 on your website however the fairing is Л15000-060? The serial numbers run in sequence and 060 implies rocket 040.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss33/im/photo_10-14-10.jpg

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17286.msg929713#msg929713

Hi Stan,

The information I have is that the rocket is 044. Launcher 040 will be used on Soyuz TMA-07M.

[Danderman]

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss33/photo_10-16.html

Designers' inspection and insertion of Soyuz into the payload fairing


These photos may show any modifications of Soyuz for this mission, if you look carefully.

[russianhalo117]

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss33/photo_10-16.html

Designers' inspection and insertion of Soyuz into the payload fairing


These photos may show any modifications of Soyuz for this mission, if you look carefully.

What exactly may have changed? I am aware of the planned incremental modifications that planned to be implemented over several TMA-M SC's before the introduction of Soyuz/Progress-MS series as I have a list on my computer from a few years ago, but I do not have any graphics or photos of what these modification may actually look like.

It may help to view a photo comparison of the previous Soyuz TMA-M mission before encapsulation to the current photos of the latest mission. Otherwise, I cannot really tell the difference if any.
If anyone know's more about this please post a detailed reply.
Thanks.

[Danderman]

I am not aware of any modifications for this spacecraft, but sharp eyed people here can perhaps spot something new.

I am attaching an image from the ISS gallery, since those images are much higher resolution than RSC Energia publishes.

[Space Pete]

I am not aware of any modifications for this spacecraft, but sharp eyed people here can perhaps spot something new.

I am attaching an image from the ISS gallery, since those images are much higher resolution than RSC Energia publishes.

Some new item (a docking light?) on the left-hand-side of the docking interface?

[Nicolas PILLET]

Some new item (a docking light?) on the left-hand-side of the docking interface?

This docking light, called SFOK, is not new. It first flew on Soyuz TMA-04M.

[Space Pete]

Some new item (a docking light?) on the left-hand-side of the docking interface?

This docking light, called SFOK, is not new. It first flew on Soyuz TMA-04M.

Ah, I see. I did not see this new SFOK present on TMA-05M, however.

[jacqmans]

[Nicolas PILLET]

Ah, I see. I did not see this new SFOK present on TMA-05M, however.

Soyuz TMA-05M used the old SMI-4 light system. It is a standard practice in Russia : they test a new hardware and go back to the old hardware on subsequent flights. This way, in case of failure during first flight, subsequent flights are not impacted.

Here a picture of Soyuz TMA-05M with SMI-4 light system.

[Space Pete]

Ah, I see. I did not see this new SFOK present on TMA-05M, however.

Soyuz TMA-05M used the old SMI-4 light system. It is a standard practice in Russia : they test a new hardware and go back to the old hardware on subsequent flights. This way, in case of failure during first flight, subsequent flights are not impacted.

Here a picture of Soyuz TMA-05M with SMI-4 light system.

Thanks you! Yes, I should have known that - a very smart strategy. So I take it SFOK lights will be a feature on all future Soyuzes now?

[Nicolas PILLET]

So I take it SFOK lights will be a feature on all future Soyuzes now?

This is VERY likely.

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-204

COVERAGE SET FOR NEXT SOYUZ CREW LAUNCH TO SPACE STATION

HOUSTON -- NASA Television will provide live coverage of next week's
launch and docking of the next trio of crew members who will fly to
the International Space Station.

Expedition 33/34 NASA Flight Engineer Kevin Ford, Soyuz Commander Oleg
Novitskiy and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin are scheduled to launch
in their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft at 5:51 a.m. CDT (4:51 p.m.
Baikonur time) Tuesday, Oct. 23, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan. NASA TV launch coverage will begin at 4:30 a.m., and
include video of activities leading to the crew boarding its
spacecraft.

Two days later, at 7:35 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 25, the trio will dock
the Soyuz to the space-facing Poisk module of the orbiting
laboratory. NASA TV docking coverage begins at 7 a.m. Approximately
three hours later, hatches between the Soyuz and station will open
and Ford, Novitskiy and Tarelkin will be greeted by Expedition 33
Commander Sunita Williams of NASA and Flight Engineers Aki Hoshide of
the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Russia's Yuri Malenchenko.
Hatch opening coverage begins at 9:45 a.m.

Ford, Novitskiy and Tarelkin will remain aboard the station until
March 2013. Williams, Malenchenko and Hoshide, who arrived at the
complex in July, will return to Earth Nov. 19.

The full schedule of the Soyuz pre-launch, launch and docking includes
coverage (all times are Central):

Thursday, Oct. 18
1 p.m. -- Video File of Expedition 33/34 crew activities in Baikonur,
Kazakhstan

Saturday, Oct. 20
1 p.m. -- Video File of Expedition 33/34 crew activities and Soyuz
rocket mating in Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Sunday, Oct. 21
11 a.m. -- Video File of Expedition 33/34 Soyuz roll out to launch pad
in Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Monday, Oct. 22
11 a.m. -- Video File of Expedition 33/34 final prelaunch crew news
conference and Russian State Commission meeting in Baikonur,
Kazakhstan

Tuesday, Oct. 23
4:30 a.m. -- Expedition 33/34 Soyuz launch coverage (launch at 5:51
a.m.), includes video B-roll of crew pre-launch activities
9 a.m. -- Video File of Expedition 33/34 Soyuz prelaunch and launch
B-roll and post-launch interviews

Thursday, Oct. 25,
7 a.m. -- Expedition 33/34 Soyuz docking coverage (docking at 7:35
a.m., followed by post-docking news conference from Mission Control
in Korolev, Russia)
9:45 a.m. -- Expedition 33/34 Soyuz hatch opening and welcoming
ceremony (hatch opening at 10:15 a.m.)
Noon -- Video File of Expedition 33/34 Soyuz docking, hatch opening
and welcoming ceremony

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


http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For information about NASA and the International Space Station, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

[Artyom.]

A check inspection of the SC Soyuz TMA-06M was performed

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-06M transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

In the assembly/test building primary (Kevin Antony Ford (NASA, USA), Oleg Viktorovich Novitskiy (Roscosmos, Russia) and Evgeny Igorevich Tarelkin (Roscosmos, Russia)) and backup (Christopher John Cassidy (NASA, USA), Pavel Vladimirovich Vinogradov (Roscosmos, Russia) and Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Misurkin (Roscosmos, Russia)) crews of the Soyuz TMA-06M 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.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss33/photo_10-18.html

[Artyom.]