Author Topic: LIVE: Soyuz-FG launch with Soyuz TMA-14M - September 25, 2014 (Read 93899 times)

robertross · « **Reply #220 on:** 09/26/2014 02:19 am »

hooks retracted at 5:19:20

robertross · « **Reply #221 on:** 09/26/2014 02:20 am »

Going through leak checks

robertross · « **Reply #222 on:** 09/26/2014 02:21 am »

Probe is retracted

robertross · « **Reply #223 on:** 09/26/2014 02:21 am »

start of 15 min hold

Mark McCombs · « **Reply #224 on:** 09/26/2014 02:22 am »

Thank you Targeteer, Chris, et al. for the coverage and information. :-)

robertross · « **Reply #225 on:** 09/26/2014 02:22 am »

edited: NASA TV taking a small break until 10:30 for hatch opening

AJA · « **Reply #226 on:** 09/26/2014 02:23 am »

Quote from: Chris' latest article

In what is believed to be a very rare event, the port Solar Array did not deploy. The spacecraft still docked nominally despite this condition.

...

The arrival of the Soyuz followed closely on the heels of the latest Dragon mission to the Station.SpaceX’s CRS-4/SpX-4 spacecraft was berthed to the ISS on Tuesday, bringing with her an array of payloads.

Naughty, very naughty

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #227 on:** 09/26/2014 02:27 am »

Wrote that before the incident

I have to get some sleep before work, so if we could all keep an eye on crew ingress, it'd be appreciated!

Thanks to all for the coverage.

JimO · « **Reply #228 on:** 09/26/2014 02:57 am »

Quote from: asmi on 09/26/2014 01:04 am

Quote from: JimO on 09/25/2014 09:29 pm

Will anybody tweet a photo, or didn't they get any?

Is this the first quick-rendezvous [i.e. small separation at launch] at night when launch images are possible, or was there some earlier Soyuz launch imaged from ISS that I missed [slaps head sharply]? I'd like to compare with Gerst's serendipitous views of the Plesetsk Soyuz-Glonass in June.
Definitely not a first one. Here is what I've managed to google:

Thanks, they both seem far lower than the other accidental imaging in the last 12 months, I'll follow up and see if there were more shots in the minutes after these views.

JimO · « **Reply #229 on:** 09/26/2014 03:09 am »

I'm presuming the TsUP EVA working group will pull out and dust off the manual array unlatching procedures. I can't see the gimpy Soyuz getting cleared for a full duration expedition, and failure to unlatch could ripple down the flight schedule right into the laps of the 12-month crew next year.

TSomers · « **Reply #230 on:** 09/26/2014 03:21 am »

It sounds like the solar array decided to deploy on it's own sometime after docking, much to the surprise of the ground and crew.

Edit: The camera showed two Soyuz with deployed solar arrays. I'm not sure which is which, but here's the view of one of them.

northenarc · « **Reply #231 on:** 09/26/2014 03:31 am »

Back on the air, showing approach footage from earlier.

northenarc · « **Reply #232 on:** 09/26/2014 03:39 am »

Got my capper working just in time for LOS

JimO · « **Reply #233 on:** 09/26/2014 03:41 am »

It seems the mechanical shock of docking did the trick. Just when it unfolded, and if crew felt it, not yet known. Was not known until sunrise, apparently -- that can't be right, there should have been cabin instrument indications. But crisis over.

They also imply the docking was performed automatically, not manually.