Soyuz TMA-17M EOM Events (Undock, Entry, Landing) - December 11, 2015

[yoichi]

panorama picture of landing site
http://www.asahi.com/panorama/151212soyuz/

[Lee Jay]

Does anyone know what that really bright, tall, orange light is?  Is it some sort of combustion light like a huge lantern or maybe a holder for a big flare or something?

[AnalogMan]

Does anyone know what that really bright, tall, orange light is?  Is it some sort of combustion light like a huge lantern or maybe a holder for a big flare or something?

See this post and those that follow:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30333.msg981364#msg981364

[InfraNut2]

Love this overview picture of the Soyuz landing site!

(from tweet by Anatoly Zak who characterized it as "rather apocalyptic". That would not have been my choice of words, but it is sure looks like it could be from some epic movie)

[InfraNut2]

Love this overview picture of the Soyuz landing site!

"Down and dirty" - Another great one from Anatoly from right after landing. (from this tweet)

It gives a plausible answer to my question about why the DM was rolled a bit after landing.

Answer: To ease connection of "umbilicals"; It might also have been to avoid having the cosmonauts hanging face-down, which would complicate extraction slightly, but I am not sure how they are seated, relative to parachute bay and porthole, so I do not know whether this second answer is valid.

[ethan829]

Full-sized version from Flickr.

[TALsite]

Kjell Lindgren ‏@astro_kjell  ·

All loaded up! Farewell to our Exp 45 crewmates and the magnificent International @Space_Station! Hello Earth!!

See the picture of the cosmonauts seated inside the Soyuz DM....
The white protuberances between the cosmonaut's heads are the parachute containers

It gives a plausible answer to my question about why the DM was rolled a bit after landing.

Answer: To ease connection of "umbilicals"; It might also have been to avoid having the cosmonauts hanging face-down, which would complicate extraction slightly, but I am not sure how they are seated, relative to parachute bay and porthole, so I do not know whether this second answer is valid.

And now see the landing picture.  Knowing that both FEs have one window each, and the position of the (empty) parachute container above Lindgren's window, for me, the answer is to facilitate a more confortable position for cosmonauts in the extraction.

[jacqmans]

Kjell Lindgren:

‏Great to be back in Houston, TX.

[jacqmans]

油井 亀美也　Kimiya.Yui ‏@Astro_Kimiya 

I came back to Houston! ヒューストンへ帰ってきました！そこに待っていたのは、私の身体の到着を楽しみに待っていた方々(笑)。血液・尿検査、心電図、最大筋力発揮時に電流のショックを与える等々、充実した時間でした！

[Targeteer]

Video of the helicopters landing after picking up the returnees.  Looks cold.  https://www.facebook.com/ISS/videos/1094901430542787/

[Lewis007]

Tweet from Lindgren back home: "What happened when I told my wife that I missed the proximity to vacuum... "

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY 16-044M

NASA Astronaut Kjell Lindgren to Visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center on April 14; Media Invited

NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, who lived and worked nearly five months on the International Space Station as a flight engineer, will visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on April 14. He will share highlights from his 141-day mission in space -- from July 23 through Dec. 11, 2015 -- as part of the Expedition 44 and 45 crews.

During his stay on the station, Lindgren performed numerous science experiments including research into human physiology, fluid and combustion physics, Earth and space science, and technology development. He worked on the "Veggie" investigation, which included the opportunity to eat lettuce grown in space. Lindgren conducted two spacewalks in late 2015 with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, now retired. During the first, Lindgren installed a thermal cover on the Alpha-Magnetic Spectrometer, which looks for high-energy radiation emanating from deep space. The second focused on maintenance of the station's external thermal control systems.

Lindgren's visit to Marshall coincides with the annual Student Launch competition. Student teams from around the country are challenged with designing and building their rockets during the school year, before bringing their vehicles to Marshall for final inspections and launches. Lindgren will visit with those teams, talk about his career as an astronaut and present highlights from his mission to the space station beginning at 9:15 a.m. in Building 4316. A brief media opportunity will follow.

Media interested in covering Lindgren's visit should contact Tracy McMahan in the Marshall Public & Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 4 p.m. CDT, Wednesday, April 13. Media must report to the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at Gate 9, Interstate 565 interchange at Research Park Boulevard by 8:45 a.m. April 14. Vehicles are subject to a security search at the gate. News media will need photo identification and proof of car insurance.

Lindgren's biography is available at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lindgren-kn.pdf

Lindgren is also posting to social media:
www.twitter.com/astro_kjell

For more information on the space station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

April 21, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY M16-044

NASA Astronaut Kjell Lindgren Visits Washington April 25-29

NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, who lived and worked nearly five months on the International Space Station as a flight engineer, will make multiple appearances across Washington April 25-29 to share highlights from his 141-day mission in space.

While in the nation’s Capital, he will make a public presentation in the Moving Beyond Earth Gallery at the National Air and Space Museum, throw out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals ballgame, participate in multiple live social media events, and meet members of the public on the Mall at the Sylvan Theater.

Monday, April 25

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. EDT       

As part of National DNA Day, Lindgren will be one of the NASA participants in a Reddit Ask Me Anything to discuss some of the ongoing medical studies related to human spaceflight. Join the discussion at: https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/

Tuesday, April 26

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.   

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, 600 Independence Ave SW, Washington

Lindgren will participate in a public presentation in the Moving Beyond Earth Gallery at the museum. He will share a crew video and participate in a Q&A session.

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.       

Lindgren will participate in a Facebook Live event for a Q&A session. Join the conversation online: www.facebook.com/nasa

6:45 p.m.

Nationals Park, 1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington   

Lindgren will throw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals game versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Game time is at 7:05 p.m.


Wednesday, April 27

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.                 

Washington Monument, National Mall, Washington

During a public event on the Mall at the Sylvan Theater, Lindgren will meet with an education specialist and fourth grade class on a field trip to the nation’s Capital. Lindgren will speak to the students and be available for a Q&A with members of the public.

Media interested in covering Lindgren's visit should contact Cheryl Warner at 202-358-1100.

Lindgren lived aboard the orbiting laboratory from July 23 through Dec. 11, 2015 and served as a crew member for Expeditions 44 and 45. He performed numerous science experiments including research into human physiology, fluid and combustion physics, Earth and space science, and technology development. He worked on the "Veggie" investigation, which included the opportunity to be one of the first to eat lettuce grown in space. Lindgren conducted two spacewalks in late 2015 with former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. During the first, Lindgren installed a thermal cover on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which looks for high-energy radiation emanating from deep space. The second focused on maintenance of the station's external thermal control systems.

Follow Lindgren on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/astro_kjell

For more information on the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[Lewis007]

Video of Lindgren's mission presentation at the Smithsonian NASM on April 26.
A narrated 30-minute mission summary starts ~20 minutes into the video.
About the departure of the Cygnus cargo ship (loaded with trash) and subsequent re-entry, Lindgren's son commented: "One man's underwear is another man's shooting star."

Pics Lindgren's post-landing events can be found at the Flickr page of NASA HQ:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums