Author Topic: LIVE: Soyuz-FG launch with Soyuz TMA-20M - March 18, 2016 (21:26 UTC) (Read 62352 times)

SMS · « **Reply #20 on:** 03/04/2016 08:03 pm »

Quote

The training of the crews of manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20M began at Baikonur cosmodrome
March 4, 2015

Today on March 4 the final training of the prime and backup crews of manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20M began at Baikonur cosmodrome.

Also today, the Technical Management meeting took place, at which a decision was taken to fill Soyuz TMA-20M with propellant components and compressed gases.

Cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin (commander of the vehicle, ROSCOSMOS) and Oleg Skripochka (flight engeneer, ROSCOSMOS), as well as the astronaut Jeffry Williams (flight engeneer-2, NASA) being members of the prime crew fitted on spacesuits Sokol-KV and after spacesuit leak check took their seats in the vehicle. The crew tested the radio system, checked the laser ranger, became familiar with the onboard documentation, flight program and a list of cargo items.

In the final preparation phase trainings on manual berthing of the vehicle to the International Space Station, monitoring of science hardware kits, ballistic lessons and other activities were planned.

Members of the prime and backup crews of Soyuz TMA-20M arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Thursday. The backup crew consists of Sergey Ryzhikov (commander of the vehicle, ROSCOSMOS), Andrey Borisenko (flight engeneer, ROSCOSMOS) and Robert Kimbrough (flight engeneer-2, NASA).

The launch of Soyuz TMA-20M carrying the crew of the next long-duration expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled on March 19, 2016 from site No. 1 ("Gagarin's Launch Site") of Baikonur Cosmodrome.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss47/photo_03-04.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/05/2016 08:13 am »

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3374

wsl2005 · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/05/2016 09:52 am »

Satori · « **Reply #23 on:** 03/09/2016 05:32 pm »

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome continues the preparations for the launch of the manned Soyuz TMA-20M.

The Soyuz TMA-20M is now fueled and was transported back to the MIK 254 where it was docked to the transfer compartment.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss47/photo_03-09.html (for now only in Russian)

ZachS09 · « **Reply #24 on:** 03/09/2016 11:28 pm »

Even though Aleksei Ovchinin is a spaceflight rookie, how come he's commanding the Soyuz?

Personally, I think Oleg Skripochka deserves the role of Soyuz Commander because he flew once before (Soyuz TMA-01M).

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #25 on:** 03/10/2016 01:19 am »

Quote from: longdrivechampion102 on 03/09/2016 11:28 pm

Even though Aleksei Ovchinin is a spaceflight rookie, how come he's commanding the Soyuz?

Personally, I think Oleg Skripochka deserves the role of Soyuz Commander because he flew once before (Soyuz TMA-01M).

ISTR that for many years Soyuz was crewed by both Soviet/Russian Air Force cosmonauts and by cosmonauts selected and trained by Korolev's old organization, which then (I believe) after many names and managers morphed into Roscosmos. In any event, you had a mix of cosmonauts selected strictly from the military, and cosmonauts selected by the "civilian" space agency.

In those cases, regardless of experience or even seniority, a military pilot was always made the commander. Air Force trumps, well -- pretty much everything.

Perhaps that is what we are seeing here...?

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #26 on:** 03/10/2016 06:46 pm »

Quote from: Satori on 03/09/2016 05:32 pm

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome continues the preparations for the launch of the manned Soyuz TMA-20M.

The Soyuz TMA-20M is now fueled and was transported back to the MIK 254 where it was docked to the transfer compartment.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss47/photo_03-09.html (for now only in Russian)

The second attached image shows a second Soyuz (on a stand to the right, not the one being lifted by the crane).
Is that Soyuz the first Soyuz-MS?

Nicolas PILLET · « **Reply #27 on:** 03/10/2016 06:51 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 03/10/2016 06:46 pm

Is that Soyuz the first Soyuz-MS?

Yes. Soyuz TMA-20M is the last spaceship in the Soyuz TMA-M family.

jacqmans · « **Reply #28 on:** 03/11/2016 07:01 am »

March 10, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY M16-026

NASA Television to Air Launch of Next Record-Breaking U.S. Astronaut

On a second American record-breaking mission for 2016, NASA astronaut Jeff Williams is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station at 5:26 p.m. EDT Friday, March 18, with cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka of the Russian space agency Roscosmos from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA Television launch coverage will begin at 4:30 p.m.

During his six-month mission, Williams will become the new American record holder for cumulative days in space -- 534 -- surpassing Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly, who wrapped up his one-year mission on March 1. Williams will take command of the station on June 4 for Expedition 48. This will be his third space station expedition -- another record.

The three will travel in a Soyuz spacecraft, rendezvousing with the space station six hours after launch. They’ll dock to the station’s Poisk module at 11:12 p.m. NASA TV coverage of docking will begin at 10:30 p.m.

The hatches between the Soyuz and station will be opened less than two hours later at about 12:55 a.m. Saturday, March 19, when the newly arrived crew members will be greeted by Expedition 47 Commander Tim Kopra of NASA and Flight Engineers Yuri Malenchenko of Roscosmos and Tim Peake of ESA (European Space Agency). NASA TV coverage of the hatch opening will begin at 12:30 a.m.

Together, the Expedition 47 crew members will continue the several hundred experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science currently underway and scheduled to take place aboard humanity’s only orbiting laboratory. Williams, Ovchinin and Skripochka are scheduled to spend six months on the station, returning to Earth in early September 2016.

For the full schedule of prelaunch, launch and docking coverage, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

Follow the space station crew members on Instagram and Twitter at:

http://instagram.com/iss

and

http://www.twitter.com/Space_Station

Satori · « **Reply #29 on:** 03/11/2016 12:36 pm »

Continues the preparations for the launch of Soyuz TMA-20M.

At Baikonur it was performed the designers inspection of the vehicle and after that, the Soyuz TMA-20M was inserted inside the payload fairing.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss47/photo_03-11.html (for now only in Russian)

jacqmans · « **Reply #30 on:** 03/13/2016 08:36 am »

Jeff Williams ‏@Astro_Jeff

Good morning #sunrise along the “Avenue of the Cosmonauts”. Each tree planted by a space traveler.

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

Jeff Williams ‏@Astro_Jeff

Sign says "Yuri Gagarin...a tree for everybody who has flown from here...mine is out there somewhere"

jacqmans · « **Reply #31 on:** 03/14/2016 10:09 am »

jacqmans · « **Reply #32 on:** 03/14/2016 07:40 pm »

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3388

jacqmans · « **Reply #33 on:** 03/14/2016 07:43 pm »

A check inspection of the SC Soyuz TMA-20M was performed
March 14, 2015

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-20M transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

In the assembly/test building prime (Russian cosmonauts OVCHININ Alexey Nikolaevich and SKRIPOCHKA Oleg Ivanovich, NASA astronaut Jeffry WILLIAMS) and backup (RYZHIKOV Sergei Nikolaevich (Roscosmos), BORISENKO Andrei Ivanovich (Roscosmos) and Robert KIMBROUGH (NASA)) crews of the Soyuz TMA-20M transportation manned spacecraft made a check inspection of the spacecraft in the launch configuration and also made an inspection of the SC Progress MS-02.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss47/photo_03-14.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #34 on:** 03/14/2016 07:43 pm »

Orbital module of the LV Soyuz-FG with SC Soyuz TMA-20M was transported for the general integration with LV
March 14, 2015

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-20M transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program.

Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing the Soyuz TMA-20M manned spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss47/photo_03-14_1.html

Satori · « **Reply #35 on:** 03/15/2016 08:24 pm »

Does anyone knows to where the TsUP page moved to?

Satori · « **Reply #36 on:** 03/15/2016 08:27 pm »

Launch vehicle integration is now complete: http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss47/photo_03-15.html (in Russian, for now).

Technical Management gave the green light to the roll-out to the pad.

tehwkd · « **Reply #37 on:** 03/16/2016 08:03 am »

rollout ~~& launch~~ is delayed.

http://ria.ru/science/20160316/1390615044.html

Tass says launch not delayed

http://tass.ru/en/science/862640

jacqmans · « **Reply #38 on:** 03/16/2016 08:23 am »

Launch vehicle with Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft rolled out to the launch pad
March 16, 2015

Today, March 16, the medium launch vehicle (LV) Soyuz-FG integrated with the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20M was successfully rolled out of the processing facility and transported to the launch pad of Area 1 (“Gagarin’s launch pad”) of the Baikonur cosmodrome.

The work to erect the rocket is temporarily suspended due to bad weather.

The launch of the Soyuz TMA-20M with the crew of the next expedition to the International Space Station is scheduled for March 19 from Area No. 1 (“Gagarin’s launch pad”) of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The main crew of ISS-47/48 includes cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin (spacecraft commander), Oleg Skripochka (flight engineer, Roscosmos) and astronaut Jeffrey Williams (flight engineer-2, NASA). The backup crew consists of Sergei Ryzhikov (crew commander, Roscosmos), Andrei Borisenko (flight engineer, Roscosmos) and Robert Kimbrough (flight engineer-2, NASA).

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss47/photo_03-16.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #39 on:** 03/16/2016 08:31 am »

ROSCOSMOS. ANNOUNCEMENT

03.16.2016 9:32

Today, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome hosted removal of the carrier rocket "Soyuz-FG" with the manned spacecraft "Soyuz TMA-20M" on the launch pad. According to weather conditions installation space rocket has been postponed to the launch pad. The timing of this operation will be determined at the working meeting on the technical management ILV trials at 14:00 MSK based on the actual condition and forecast meteorological situation in the vicinity of the starting position. Transferring launch, scheduled for March 19, 2016, is not being considered.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/22036/