LIVE: Soyuz-FG launch w/ Soyuz TMA-07M & docking to ISS - Dec 19-21, 2012

[robertross]

And that looks like it.

[Space Pete]

Trivia: Excluding MRM-1, Roman entered the ISS through the FGB Nadir hatch - the very same one by which he left the ISS just over three years ago.

Words can't describe how happy I am now.

Awesome moment for Canada

Can't wait to feel the same thing myself for the UK and Tim Peake!

But until then: Go Canada!

[Space Pete]

And bar a reboost on the 23rd, this rounds out the schedule of ISS flight events for 2012.

Needless to say, a very successful first full year of post-Shuttle operations for the station. I'll have an article reviewing this year's successes, and looking ahead into next year, on site just prior to New Years.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays everyone!

[asmi]

Needless to say, a very successful first full year of post-Shuttle operations for the station. I'll have an article reviewing this year's successes, and looking ahead into next year, on site just prior to New Years.

Yea and looks like whatever changes Russians have done after last year's Progress mishap are actually working! No single failure for ISS-bound flights this year (enough of non-ISS though)...

[asmi]

Wow, talk about a complicated choreography on WHEN to ingress the ISS

Looks like Russians have finally learnt from NASA and other partners, that space business should not only work good, but also look good on camera And looks like they've taught (or ordered to cosmonauts to smile as we see more and more smiles of their faces, which is a good thing if you ask me

[Space Pete]

Yea and looks like whatever changes Russians have done after last year's Progress mishap are actually working! No single failure for ISS-bound flights this year (enough of non-ISS though)...

Yeah, but Proton still makes me nervous. Especially considering they're going to put MLM on it! But that's for another thread...


Anyway, for those who want to follow Hadfield's mission in-depth, you can do so via his following personal accounts:
. Twitter
. Facebook (or Bookface as Chris B calls it )
. Google+
. YouTube

And while we're on the subject, former CSA astronaut, and the last Canadian to visit the ISS, Bob Thirsk, is now Tweeting too. But unfortunately, it seems the CSA forced the fantastic Dextre Twitter account to close down.

[asmi]

Yeah, but Proton still makes me nervous. Especially considering they're going to put MLM on it! But that's for another thread...

Oh, I'm sure they'll do it as if it would be a manned mission - meaning they'll check and recheck eveything lots of times. They would not stand for a huge embarrassment of such a failure. Besides most of failures were caused by Breeze-M upper stage, which is not going to be used for MLM launch if I understand it right, the LV itself does its job pretty well.

[PahTo]

Congrats to all on a successful launch and docking.  Welcome aboard Exp 34!
Looking forward to the article, Space Pete, and to echo your sentiments:
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All!

[Artyom.]

[woods170]

Yeah, but Proton still makes me nervous. Especially considering they're going to put MLM on it! But that's for another thread...

<snip>...most of failures were caused by Breeze-M upper stage, which is not going to be used for MLM launch if I understand it right, the LV itself does its job pretty well.

Correct. The Proton launcher itself is reliable. Most failures recently arose from the Briz-(K)M upper stage. For the launch of MLM a Proton-M will be used, without a Briz upper stage. So, a 3-stage Proton only.

[akula2]

Wow, talk about a complicated choreography on WHEN to ingress the ISS

Looks like Russians have finally learnt from NASA and other partners, that space business should not only work good, but also look good on camera And looks like they've taught (or ordered to ) cosmonauts to smile as we see more and more smiles of their faces, which is a good thing if you ask me

Say that to Chinese!

[akula2]

Correct. The Proton launcher itself is reliable. Most failures recently arose from the Briz-(K)M upper stage. For the launch of MLM a Proton-M will be used, without a Briz upper stage. So, a 3-stage Proton only.

True, but I reckon 2013 launches will be smooth

[Nicolas PILLET]

On Novosti Kosmonavtiki :

3 декабря 2012 г. советом главных конструкторов рассмотрена и подтверждена готовность российского сегмента МКС и ракетно-космического комплекса "Союз-ФГ" (№ Л15000-040) / "Союз ТМА-07М" (зав. № 704А в составе БО № 707, ПАО № 707 и СА № 708) к проведению работ по программе МКС-34/35.

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/news/3839/

I don't understand.
PAO n°704 and BO n°704 will not be reused ?
If Soyuz TMA-07M uses SA n°708, where us SA n°707 ?

[anik]

Soyuz TMA-04M: BO 705, SA 705, PAO 705
Soyuz TMA-05M: BO 706, SA 706, PAO 706
Soyuz TMA-06M: BO 704, SA 707, PAO 704
Soyuz TMA-07M: BO 707, SA 708, PAO 707

[darkenfast]

Sorry to come late to this, but I'm still curious about the movement of the horizon in the Soyuz portholes during the launch. Is that normal? Also, a few seconds before the 1st stage (the four strap-ons) shutdown, there was an object that came off the rocket and can be seen in the video. I don't recall seeing this before, and I thought that the launch escape system came off after the strap-ons. Can anyone tell me what this is (or have I just got the order messed up)? Thanks!

[moosefoot]

Sorry to come late to this, but I'm still curious about the movement of the horizon in the Soyuz portholes during the launch. Is that normal? Also, a few seconds before the 1st stage (the four strap-ons) shutdown, there was an object that came off the rocket and can be seen in the video. I don't recall seeing this before, and I thought that the launch escape system came off after the strap-ons. Can anyone tell me what this is (or have I just got the order messed up)? Thanks!

The thing that was jettisoned prior to the boosters was the launch escape tower.

The swaying is caused by continuous stabilization as far as I know, typically shows during the 2nd stage.

I have a question of my own. During the hatch opening/boarding "ceremony" Colonel Ford and others were taking heaps of photographs all using the same camera. Do these ever show up anywhere for us mere mortals to enjoy? I am curious because the live broadcast showed Major Romanenko (one cool dude, I must add) giving thumbs up with a real winner's face as the camera flashed. I so want that photo.

[Space Pete]

I have a question of my own. During the hatch opening/boarding "ceremony" Colonel Ford and others were taking heaps of photographs all using the same camera. Do these ever show up anywhere for us mere mortals to enjoy? I am curious because the live broadcast showed Major Romanenko (one cool dude, I must add) giving thumbs up with a real winner's face as the camera flashed. I so want that photo.

Yes, inflight ISS Expedition photos are posted at their corresponding gallery at the link below (just change the expedition number in the link to the one you desire).

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-34/inflight/ndxpage1.html

However, only a very small sample of the photos the crew take are actually released to the public - the ones deemed to be interesting enough by the NASA PAO (which I personally disagree with, as I think they should all be posted unless there's a specific reason why they shouldn't, such as pictures of crew medical issues, etc.).