Author Topic: LIVE: Soyuz TMA-14M EOM Events (Undock, Entry, Landing) - March 11-12, 2015 (Read 53848 times)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **on:** 03/11/2015 08:51 am »

March 4, 2015

MEDIA ADVISORY M15-033

NASA Television to Air Space Station Change of Commander, Return of Three Crew Members

Three International Space Station crew members are scheduled to leave the orbiting laboratory Wednesday, March 11 after almost six months in space performing scientific research and technology demonstrations.

NASA Television will provide complete coverage of their departure and return to Earth, beginning with the space station change of command ceremony on Tuesday, March 10.

Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore of NASA will hand over command of the station to fellow NASA astronaut Terry Virts. At 6:44 p.m. Wednesday, Wilmore and flight engineers Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will undock their Soyuz spacecraft from the space station and land in Kazakhstan at 10:07 p.m. (8:07 a.m. March 12 Kazakh time).

NASA Television coverage is as follows:

Tuesday, March 10

10:25 a.m. -- Change of command ceremony in which Wilmore hands over station command to Virts
Wednesday, March 11

3 p.m. -- Farewell and hatch closure coverage (hatch closure scheduled at 3:25 p.m.)
6:15 p.m. -- Undocking coverage (undocking scheduled at 6:44 p.m.)
9 p.m. -- Deorbit burn and landing coverage (deorbit burn scheduled at 9:16 p.m., with landing at 10:07 p.m.)

Thursday, March 12

12 a.m. -- Video File of hatch closure, undocking and landing activities
10:30 a.m. -- Video File of landing and post-landing activities and post-landing interview with Wilmore in Kazakhstan

Their return will complete 167 days in space since launching from Kazakhstan on Sept. 26, on a mission covering almost 71 million miles. Wilmore will have logged 178 days in space on two flights, the first of which was on space shuttle mission STS-129 in 2009. Samokutyaev will have spent 331 days in space on two flights, the first of which was on Expedition 27/28 in 2011. This was Serova’s first flight into space.
At the time of undocking, Expedition 43 officially will begin aboard the station under Virts’ command. Along with his crewmates Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency), the three-person crew will operate the station for two weeks until the arrival of three new crew members.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka, are scheduled to launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, March 27 U.S. time (March 28 Kazakh time). Kelly and Kornienko will spend a year aboard the complex collecting valuable biomedical data that will inform future deep space, long-duration missions.

For the NASA TV schedule and coordinate information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

For b-roll and other media resources, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And moved for live coverage!

JimO · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/11/2015 01:07 pm »

I am presuming unspecified time zone is EDT?

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #2 on:** 03/11/2015 01:21 pm »

Quote from: JimO on 03/11/2015 01:07 pm

I am presuming unspecified time zone is EDT?

Yup.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/11/2015 01:53 pm »

Rob Navias in the JSC Soyuz sim!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/11/2015 01:55 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/11/2015 03:05 pm »

Farewells.

Prober · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/11/2015 06:31 pm »

in the middle of hatch close....

jacqmans · « **Reply #7 on:** 03/11/2015 08:22 pm »

Sam Cristoforetti @AstroSamantha
Our last minutes together as #Exp42 crew. It's been a pleasure serving on #ISS with these wonderful people.

-------------------------------------------------

Sam Cristoforetti @AstroSamantha
And then it was time for Sasha to close the Soyuz hatch. They're in there now, undocking in a couple of hours!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/11/2015 09:11 pm »

Oh. NASA TV's got rid of their epic music and replaced it with something crap.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/11/2015 09:16 pm »

Well I just can't get excited about this after they've denied us the great intro music

robertross · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/11/2015 09:17 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/11/2015 09:16 pm

Well I just can't get excited about this after they've denied us the great intro music

It wasn't that bad, just notas good as the last one

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/11/2015 09:17 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/11/2015 09:20 pm »

Butch can speak a fair amount of Russian it seems.

robertross · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/11/2015 09:24 pm »

6 in of snow and frigid temperatures at the landing site

robertross · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/11/2015 09:25 pm »

front moving in.
A few clouds at 2000 ft
20000ft ceiling
light & variable winds
20F
correction (from earlier post): 2 inches snow scattered at landing sight

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/11/2015 09:27 pm »

NASA TV have fancy new graphics.

Okan could do a lot better

robertross · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/11/2015 09:29 pm »

15min to undocking

robertross · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/11/2015 09:29 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/11/2015 09:27 pm

NASA TV have fancy new graphics.

Okan could do a lot better

agreed!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/11/2015 09:31 pm »

11 mins to KU. Just in time for undocking.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #19 on:** 03/11/2015 09:34 pm »

robertross · « **Reply #20 on:** 03/11/2015 09:41 pm »

ISS being placed into free drift

robertross · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/11/2015 09:42 pm »

30 sec to undock command

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/11/2015 09:42 pm »

KU back.

Hooks and latches are being driven.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #23 on:** 03/11/2015 09:45 pm »

Physical separation! Undocking confirmed!

robertross · « **Reply #24 on:** 03/11/2015 09:45 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #25 on:** 03/11/2015 09:46 pm »

Docking port looks clean.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #26 on:** 03/11/2015 09:47 pm »

Article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/iss-trio-end-iss-adventure-home-soyuz-tma-14m/

robertross · « **Reply #27 on:** 03/11/2015 09:48 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #28 on:** 03/11/2015 09:48 pm »

First sep burn complete.

robertross · « **Reply #29 on:** 03/11/2015 09:49 pm »

departure as seen with Canadarm2 in foreground

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #30 on:** 03/11/2015 09:49 pm »

SSRMS waves farewell!

robertross · « **Reply #31 on:** 03/11/2015 09:50 pm »

preparing for the ceremonial bell ringing

and rung

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #32 on:** 03/11/2015 09:53 pm »

Nice light show.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #33 on:** 03/11/2015 09:56 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #34 on:** 03/11/2015 09:58 pm »

Making good speed away from the Station.

Ah yes, this was the Soyuz with the one array.

northenarc · « **Reply #35 on:** 03/11/2015 09:59 pm »

Looking it over

northenarc · « **Reply #36 on:** 03/11/2015 10:01 pm »

The lighting makes for interesting effects.

northenarc · « **Reply #37 on:** 03/11/2015 10:04 pm »

Just sailing away.

northenarc · « **Reply #38 on:** 03/11/2015 10:07 pm »

Map of recovery areas and vehicles.

northenarc · « **Reply #39 on:** 03/11/2015 10:09 pm »

Cruising along

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #40 on:** 03/11/2015 10:16 pm »

Nice! Soyuz departure from inside the ISS

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #41 on:** 03/11/2015 10:16 pm »

12 km away from the ISS now.

northenarc · « **Reply #42 on:** 03/11/2015 10:17 pm »

Replay of the undocking

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #43 on:** 03/11/2015 10:19 pm »

NASA TV ending this segment of coverage.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #44 on:** 03/11/2015 10:19 pm »

Let's all break for a nice cup of tea and meet back for this....

Space Pete · « **Reply #45 on:** 03/11/2015 10:26 pm »

Some unique new views there - both from the recently relocated external camera at CP-8 on the zenith-outboard side of the S1 Truss, and the internal views via the recently opened Node 3 Aft CBCS flap.

mtakala24 · « **Reply #46 on:** 03/11/2015 11:11 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/11/2015 10:19 pm

Let's all break for a nice cup of tea and meet back for this....

Twitter coverage of certain F1 related court proceedings is great fun to watch during this lul.

Prober · « **Reply #47 on:** 03/11/2015 11:57 pm »

Landing coverage.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #48 on:** 03/12/2015 12:16 am »

Deorbit burn underway!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #49 on:** 03/12/2015 12:18 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #50 on:** 03/12/2015 12:22 am »

Burn should be complete. Not confirmed.

Prober · « **Reply #51 on:** 03/12/2015 12:26 am »

don't know about you guys but all these empty chairs in Russia is bugging me.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #52 on:** 03/12/2015 12:29 am »

It's a long blackout, that's expected.

DwightM · « **Reply #53 on:** 03/12/2015 12:30 am »

Quote from: Prober on 03/12/2015 12:26 am

don't know about you guys but all these empty chairs in Russia is bugging me.

Maybe they read Chris' suggestion about tea?

asmi · « **Reply #54 on:** 03/12/2015 12:31 am »

Quote from: Prober on 03/12/2015 12:26 am

don't know about you guys but all these empty chairs in Russia is bugging me.

If my memory serves me (been in MCC-M about 5 years ago) this MCC room is for RS ISS, while most of the action now is happening in the Soyuz control room which is separate from ISS one.

AbeJ · « **Reply #55 on:** 03/12/2015 12:32 am »

Anyone else have the ustream NTV feed go off air?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #56 on:** 03/12/2015 12:32 am »

Getting a bit tense with the blackout. Calling the ISS.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #57 on:** 03/12/2015 12:32 am »

Quote from: AbeJ on 03/12/2015 12:32 am

Anyone else have the ustream NTV feed go off air?

Yeah, I switched to the media version:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#.VQDr2fmsWqI

rickl · « **Reply #58 on:** 03/12/2015 12:33 am »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2015 12:29 am

It's a long blackout, that's expected.

They shouldn't be in a communications blackout already, should they? I heard that they lost communications during the burn.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #59 on:** 03/12/2015 12:33 am »

Can't even get the ISS to respond at the moment.

mtakala24 · « **Reply #60 on:** 03/12/2015 12:35 am »

I didn't hear the communication about the burn completion, but the ustream feed went down at the same time period without me noticing.

asmi · « **Reply #61 on:** 03/12/2015 12:35 am »

Quote from: rickl on 03/12/2015 12:33 am

They shouldn't be in a communications blackout already, should they? I heard that they lost communications during the burn.

This is not normal. Something is up.

AbeJ · « **Reply #62 on:** 03/12/2015 12:35 am »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2015 12:32 am

Quote from: AbeJ on 03/12/2015 12:32 am
Anyone else have the ustream NTV feed go off air?

Yeah, I switched to the media version:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#.VQDr2fmsWqI

Yea, me too but the ustream link is usually more stable.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #63 on:** 03/12/2015 12:37 am »

Ok, this is getting a bit worrying.

Calling the Soyuz in the blind. I hate that reference for obvious reasons.

TrueBlueWitt · « **Reply #64 on:** 03/12/2015 12:40 am »

3 Minutes to separation.. Seems coms are back?

mtakala24 · « **Reply #65 on:** 03/12/2015 12:41 am »

I think they are still calling instructions in the blind.

asmi · « **Reply #66 on:** 03/12/2015 12:41 am »

Quote from: TrueBlueWitt on 03/12/2015 12:40 am

3 Minutes to separation.. Seems coms are back?

If I understood this right - this was MCC-M talking.

AbeJ · « **Reply #67 on:** 03/12/2015 12:44 am »

ustream NTV public feed is back live.

asmi · « **Reply #68 on:** 03/12/2015 12:44 am »

Module sep is confirmed via TM from Egypt-based tracking station.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #69 on:** 03/12/2015 12:44 am »

Am I understand it right that communications were lost *during* the burn?

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #70 on:** 03/12/2015 12:44 am »

Ground station in Egypt confirms vehicle separation. No voice comm yet.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #71 on:** 03/12/2015 12:44 am »

Quote from: Lee Jay on 03/12/2015 12:44 am

Am I understand it right that communications were lost *during* the burn?

Yes.

Prober · « **Reply #72 on:** 03/12/2015 12:45 am »

We have confirm module sep.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #73 on:** 03/12/2015 12:45 am »

Good module sep. So the deorbit burn was good. Has to be just a comms issue.

mtakala24 · « **Reply #74 on:** 03/12/2015 12:46 am »

The Soyuz operation is largely automatic, with the crew only monitoring systems, and they are trained to do everything without comms. Still, very strange.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #75 on:** 03/12/2015 12:47 am »

Quote from: mtakala24 on 03/12/2015 12:46 am

The Soyuz operation is largely automatic, with the crew only monitoring systems, and they are trained to do everything without comms. Still, very strange.

Main thing was a scheduled event confirmation. Comm issues happen. Not seeing the Soyuz on track would have been.......bad.

asmi · « **Reply #76 on:** 03/12/2015 12:49 am »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2015 12:47 am

Main thing was a scheduled event confirmation. Comm issues happen. Not seeing the Soyuz on track would have been.......bad.

It would be on a "track" no matter what due to basic orbital mechanics - it simply has no propulsive means to be elsewhere. But module sep confirmation is a good sign.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #77 on:** 03/12/2015 12:50 am »

Remember a previous Soyuz that lost comms. They radioed a recovery chopper, so this could be the next opportunity.

mtakala24 · « **Reply #78 on:** 03/12/2015 12:50 am »

Now that sounded like comms!

asmi · « **Reply #79 on:** 03/12/2015 12:50 am »

Looks like comms are back?

DwightM · « **Reply #80 on:** 03/12/2015 12:51 am »

Some (calm) inaudible comm there, through VHF "sounded as if it came from the Soyuz spacecraft" per Rob Navias.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #81 on:** 03/12/2015 12:52 am »

Sounded like comms to me!

asmi · « **Reply #82 on:** 03/12/2015 12:52 am »

Comms are back! All is nominal!

DwightM · « **Reply #83 on:** 03/12/2015 12:53 am »

"We now have good communications from the crew. Everything is on track and in good shape." - Navias.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #84 on:** 03/12/2015 12:53 am »

Pardon my French, but thank f- for that.

northenarc · « **Reply #85 on:** 03/12/2015 12:53 am »

Good to hear the comms back and all nominal.

Prober · « **Reply #86 on:** 03/12/2015 12:54 am »

com back..

mtakala24 · « **Reply #87 on:** 03/12/2015 12:54 am »

Ustream is back too!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #88 on:** 03/12/2015 12:56 am »

I reckon that's chutes!

northenarc · « **Reply #89 on:** 03/12/2015 12:57 am »

Guess we aren't getting ground video of the landing.

DwightM · « **Reply #90 on:** 03/12/2015 12:58 am »

SAR crew has communication with the Soyuz crew.

DwightM · « **Reply #91 on:** 03/12/2015 01:03 am »

Getting close. 2.5 K from landing site.

mtakala24 · « **Reply #92 on:** 03/12/2015 01:04 am »

Video from site!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #93 on:** 03/12/2015 01:04 am »

They see the Soyuz 2.5 kms from landing.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #94 on:** 03/12/2015 01:04 am »

Cloud and fog.

northenarc · « **Reply #95 on:** 03/12/2015 01:05 am »

I was wrong, we have video

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #96 on:** 03/12/2015 01:05 am »

1.5 km.

Prober · « **Reply #97 on:** 03/12/2015 01:05 am »

the landing site

mtakala24 · « **Reply #98 on:** 03/12/2015 01:10 am »

Might be difficult to find and have the helicopters land in that fog.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #99 on:** 03/12/2015 01:10 am »

Still waiting for confirmation.

asmi · « **Reply #100 on:** 03/12/2015 01:11 am »

Quote from: mtakala24 on 03/12/2015 01:10 am

Might be difficult to find and have the helicopters land in that fog.

Yea - thinking of the same thing. From the looks of it, visibility is in 200-300 m range.

Prober · « **Reply #101 on:** 03/12/2015 01:12 am »

Quote from: mtakala24 on 03/12/2015 01:10 am

Might be difficult to find and have the helicopters land in that fog.

had those same thoughts

mtakala24 · « **Reply #102 on:** 03/12/2015 01:14 am »

Did they confirm visual contact above-the-clouds?

mtakala24 · « **Reply #103 on:** 03/12/2015 01:14 am »

Touchdown confirmed!

DwightM · « **Reply #104 on:** 03/12/2015 01:15 am »

Landing confirmed, vertical.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #105 on:** 03/12/2015 01:15 am »

And they are confirmed as home! PHEW!

asmi · « **Reply #106 on:** 03/12/2015 01:16 am »

Quote from: DwightM on 03/12/2015 01:15 am

vertical.

That is not given. Last time Soyuz rolled to the side after touchdown by the chute before crew managed to cut the strap.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #107 on:** 03/12/2015 01:19 am »

Me, earlier.....

DwightM · « **Reply #108 on:** 03/12/2015 01:19 am »

Quote from: asmi on 03/12/2015 01:16 am

Quote from: DwightM on 03/12/2015 01:15 am
vertical.
That is not given. Last time Soyuz rolled to the side after touchdown by the chute before crew managed to cut the strap.

True, but for now they're still saying it's upright.

AbeJ · « **Reply #109 on:** 03/12/2015 01:20 am »

Quote from: asmi on 03/12/2015 01:16 am

Quote from: DwightM on 03/12/2015 01:15 am
vertical.
That is not given. Last time Soyuz rolled to the side after touchdown by the chute before crew managed to cut the strap.

Doesn't look very windy at all so probably not an issue.

DwightM · « **Reply #110 on:** 03/12/2015 01:20 am »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2015 01:19 am

Me, earlier.....

Surely you can't be serious.

asmi · « **Reply #111 on:** 03/12/2015 01:21 am »

Live video! It's upright.

DwightM · « **Reply #112 on:** 03/12/2015 01:21 am »

From the site.

DwightM · « **Reply #113 on:** 03/12/2015 01:22 am »

About 20 deg in the area, or 40 deg F warmer than where I currently am (Fairbanks).

northenarc · « **Reply #114 on:** 03/12/2015 01:23 am »

Setting up the 'slide'

Prober · « **Reply #115 on:** 03/12/2015 01:23 am »

very good pics now

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #116 on:** 03/12/2015 01:24 am »

Quote from: DwightM on 03/12/2015 01:20 am

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2015 01:19 am
Me, earlier.....
Surely you can't be serious.

I am and don't call me Shirley

northenarc · « **Reply #117 on:** 03/12/2015 01:25 am »

I want one of those Roscosmos blankets

Prober · « **Reply #118 on:** 03/12/2015 01:25 am »

chair prep

northenarc · « **Reply #119 on:** 03/12/2015 01:28 am »

Anybody home?

DwightM · « **Reply #120 on:** 03/12/2015 01:31 am »

Alexander is out first.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #121 on:** 03/12/2015 01:32 am »

Big smile.

Prober · « **Reply #122 on:** 03/12/2015 01:32 am »

1st out

northenarc · « **Reply #123 on:** 03/12/2015 01:33 am »

Looking well

Prober · « **Reply #124 on:** 03/12/2015 01:34 am »

DwightM · « **Reply #125 on:** 03/12/2015 01:35 am »

And now Butch.

northenarc · « **Reply #126 on:** 03/12/2015 01:35 am »

Grinning as normal

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #127 on:** 03/12/2015 01:36 am »

Quote from: northenarc on 03/12/2015 01:25 am

I want one of those Roscosmos blankets

You know, me too! Look comfy!

AbeJ · « **Reply #128 on:** 03/12/2015 01:37 am »

Butch before Elana? What happened to Ladies before gentleman?!

JasonAW3 · « **Reply #129 on:** 03/12/2015 01:37 am »

Man, I've seen a few of these birds landed like this but this one almost looks like it reentered sideways!

And there looks to be a lot more hull scorching on the capsule than I can recall seeing before.

Their faces look puffier than usual too. Almost as if they came in at a higher G load than expected.

Could be the cold, but I don't know...

Eh, must be me. Yelena looks fine.

DwightM · « **Reply #130 on:** 03/12/2015 01:38 am »

And Yelena is out.

Prober · « **Reply #131 on:** 03/12/2015 01:38 am »

last; what happened to ladies first...

DwightM · « **Reply #132 on:** 03/12/2015 01:40 am »

Getting her medical, just as the others.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #133 on:** 03/12/2015 01:42 am »

All three. Happy ending.

AbeJ · « **Reply #134 on:** 03/12/2015 01:47 am »

What about the fruit eating they normally do?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #135 on:** 03/12/2015 01:47 am »

Get to the chopper!

asmi · « **Reply #136 on:** 03/12/2015 01:51 am »

Quote from: AbeJ on 03/12/2015 01:47 am

What about the fruit eating they normally do?

I wouldn't want to eat anything outside when it's that cold...

AbeJ · « **Reply #137 on:** 03/12/2015 01:55 am »

20 is not bad at all after the winter we've had! (I'm in WNY - very near Ontario!)

northenarc · « **Reply #138 on:** 03/12/2015 01:58 am »

Crew loaded on to ATV's, may be forgoing the medical tent.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #139 on:** 03/12/2015 01:58 am »

That'll do it for me. I need a lie down.

Thanks to everyone who chipped in with coverage. Hat tip to Prober.

Never a boring day in space!

northenarc · « **Reply #140 on:** 03/12/2015 02:03 am »

Looks like the official site plaque

DwightM · « **Reply #141 on:** 03/12/2015 02:08 am »

Don't recall getting a view inside the medical tent before.

eric z · « **Reply #142 on:** 03/12/2015 02:08 am »

A great end to a great flight! Thanks for the great coverage and screen-shots to all involved,

collectSPACE · « **Reply #143 on:** 03/12/2015 03:34 am »

Absolutely stunning shots by NASA's Bill Ingalls:

See here for more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157650846481517

John44 · « **Reply #144 on:** 03/12/2015 05:05 am »

Expedition 42 - Soyuz TMA-14M Undocking
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9317

Expedition 42 - Soyuz TMA-14M Landing
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9318

Rocket Science · « **Reply #145 on:** 03/12/2015 05:48 am »

Welcome home and thanks NSF for the great coverage!

jacqmans · « **Reply #146 on:** 03/12/2015 09:17 am »

March 11, 2015

Space Station Crew Returns to Earth, Lands Safely in Kazakhstan

Three crew members returned to Earth Wednesday after a 167-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS) that included hundreds of scientific experiments and several spacewalks to prepare the orbiting laboratory for future arrivals by U.S. commercial crew spacecraft.

Expedition 42 commander Barry Wilmore of NASA and flight engineers Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) touched down at approximately 10:07 p.m. EDT (8:07 a.m. March 12, Kazakh time) southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.

During their time on station, the crew members participated in a variety of research focusing on the effects of microgravity on cells, Earth observation, physical science and biological and molecular science. One of several key research focus areas during Expedition 42 was human health management for long-duration space travel, as NASA and Roscosmos prepare for two crew members to spend one year aboard the space station.

The space station also serves as a test bed to demonstrate new technology. The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) arrived and was installed during Expedition 42, and already is providing data to improve scientists’ understanding of the structure and evolution of Earth's atmosphere. This may lead to enhancements to spacecraft launches, landings and communications systems; help guide future atmospheric investigations of Mars, Jupiter or other worlds; and help researchers model and predict climate changes on Earth.

The newly installed Electromagnetic Levitator will allow scientists to observe fundamental physical processes as liquid metals cool, potentially leading to lighter, higher-performing alloy, mixtures of two or more metals or a metal and another material, for use on Earth and in space.

The station crew also welcomed three cargo spacecraft with several tons of scientific investigations, food, fuel and other supplies. In January, the trio helped grapple and connect a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on the company's fifth contracted commercial resupply mission to the station. The Dragon returned to Earth in February with critical science samples. Two Russian ISS Progress cargo craft docked to the station in October and February. The fifth and final European Automated Transfer Vehicle, bearing the name of Belgian physicist Georges Lemaître, considered the father of the big-bang theory, departed the station in February.

During his time on the orbital complex, Wilmore ventured outside the space station with NASA astronaut Terry Virts on three spacewalks to prepare for new international docking adapters and future U.S. commercial crew spacecraft. Wilmore also completed a spacewalk in October with fellow NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman to replace a failed voltage regulator. Samokutyaev conducted one spacewalk during his time in space.

Having completed his second space station mission, Samokutyaev now has spent 331 days in space. Wilmore, having previously flown as a shuttle pilot on STS-129, has spent 178 days in space. Serova spent 167 days in space on her first flight.

Expedition 43 currently is operating the station, with Virts in command. Flight engineers Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency), are continuing station research and operations until three new crewmates arrive in two weeks. NASA’s Scott Kelly and Roscosmos’ Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka are scheduled to launch from Kazakhstan March 27, Eastern time. Kelly and Kornienko will embark on the first joint U.S.-Russian one-year mission, an important stepping stone on NASA’s journey to Mars.

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

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For b-roll and other media resources, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews

Follow the station on Twitter at @Space_Station

robertross · « **Reply #147 on:** 03/12/2015 10:16 am »

Quote from: collectSPACE on 03/12/2015 03:34 am

Absolutely stunning shots by NASA's Bill Ingalls:

See here for more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157650846481517

Indeed stunning!

Thanks for finishing the coverage guys; great job.

Welcome home crew of Expedition 42.

ICEINK · « **Reply #148 on:** 03/12/2015 11:14 am »

Excellent Coverage!!

Jeff Lerner · « **Reply #149 on:** 03/12/2015 02:39 pm »

Great coverage....a little dicey there when the comms disappeared....did we ever get an explanation as to what happened ??...I know Soyuz communications can be difficult at times, but I dont recall what appeared to be a complete blackout at such a critical event like the re-entry burn....

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #150 on:** 03/12/2015 03:09 pm »

No explanation yet.

Mr. Trampoline isn't saying anything more than:

Dmitry Rogozin ‏@DRogozin
Everything went as planned

Jeff Lerner · « **Reply #151 on:** 03/12/2015 03:21 pm »

Thanks Chris...I was watching NTV while following along here on NSF...kudos to Rob Navias....you could hear the tension in his voice but he projected calm, no need to rush to any bad conclusions, status reporting...still...it was a sweaty palm moment for me.

NovaSilisko · « **Reply #152 on:** 03/12/2015 04:20 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2015 03:09 pm

No explanation yet.

Mr. Trampoline isn't saying anything more than:

Dmitry Rogozin ‏@DRogozin
Everything went as planned

Ah yes, the time-honored tradition of the deorbit burn comm switch-off. How could we ever forget...

Artyom. · « **Reply #153 on:** 03/12/2015 04:29 pm »

catdlr · « **Reply #154 on:** 03/12/2015 06:21 pm »

Expedition 42 Crew Arrives In Kazakhstan

Published on Mar 12, 2015
Expedition 42 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev and Flight Engineer Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) were greeted in a traditional ceremony at the airport in Karaganda, Kazakhstan on March 12, a few hours after landing along with Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore of NASA in their Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. After the ceremony, the crew split up, with Samokutyaev and Serova returning to their training base in Star City, Russia, while Wilmore boarded a NASA plane to return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The trio completed 167 days in space following their launch in late September.

Lewis007 · « **Reply #155 on:** 04/11/2015 11:14 am »

The ISS-41/42 crew members were officially welcomed in Star City on April 9.
See for info (in Russian) and more pics: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2991

Lewis007 · « **Reply #156 on:** 04/11/2015 11:16 am »

Videos of the Star City event:
(The third video is a summary of mission training, launch preps, launch, docking & landing)