LIVE: Soyuz TMA-12 launch (April 8) - Docking (April 10)

• #120 by catfry on 28 Mar, 2008 11:24
• These briefings usually don't have neither program scientists nor flight surgeons present. I'm looking forward to if there is any special reason for their presence.
• #121 by Satori on 28 Mar, 2008 12:28
• It continues the preparations for the launch of Soyuz TMA-12 at the Baykonur Cosmodrome.
  
  From the RKK Energia page: "The primary and backup crews of the ISS Expedition 17 and Taxi Mission 14 have entered into their final training phase in the processing facility. Sergey Volkov (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Kononenko (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), Soyeon Ye (South Korea) have inspected the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft, tried on Sokol-KV spacesuits and customized contoured couches, went through the on-board documentation and the launch manifest, checked their radio communications equipment, as well as conducted a training session for scientific experiments."
  
  Also from the RKK Energia page: "The Technical Management meeting took place, which made a decision to fuel Soyuz TMA-12 vehicle with propellant components and compressed gases."

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• #122 by jacqmans on 29 Mar, 2008 10:27
• 28.03.2008 at the spaceport Baikonur continues preparation for the starting of space rocket "Soyuz-fG" with the manned spacecraft "union TMA-12
  
  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=3111
  
  At the spaceport Baikonur continues the preparation for the starting of space rocket "Soyuz-fG" with the manned spacecraft "union TMA-12".
  
  by  Utrom in hotel "cosmonaut" took place the ceremony of the lift of the flags of states, which participate in the starting of "union TMA-12". The lift of flags is considered as the official beginning of official work at the spaceport Baikonur the specialists of the center of training cosmonauts.
  
  Kosmonavty Sergey volkov, Oleg kononenko, Soyon 1i, Maxim surayev, Oleg skripochka, San ko raised the flags of Russia, Kazakhstan and Korea. The representatives been present on the measure wished spaceport to the crew of the ship of the successful fulfillment of space mission.
  
  Posle of the completion of solemn part, took place the traditional photographing of crews with participants in the operations group of the center of training cosmonauts.  
   
   
  
• #123 by jacqmans on 31 Mar, 2008 08:55
• March 29, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
  
  Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned vehicle fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations.
  
  
  Photos:
  http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_03-29.html
  
  
• #124 by jacqmans on 31 Mar, 2008 08:56
• March 30, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
  
  Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.
   
  Photos:
  http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_03-30.html
  
  
• #125 by jacqmans on 01 Apr, 2008 19:00
• April 1, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia.
  
   At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-12 under the International Space Station program.
  
  Designers inspection of the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft was completed.
  
  Payload shroud roll on to the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft was performed.
  
  Photos:
  http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_04-01.html
• #126 by eeergo on 01 Apr, 2008 21:14
• There seem to be three metal braces enshrouding the spacecraft, holding together the DM, SM and PM, I suppose for horizontal loads. Do they become detached once the fairing separates or once the Soyuz rocket is erected some technicians go somehow inside the fairing and remove them?
  
  BTW, it's always great to see another one of these venerable vehicules getting close to launch, thanks for the updates!
• #127 by DarthVader on 01 Apr, 2008 21:18
• Quote

  eeergo - 1/4/2008  2:14 PM
  
  There seem to be three metal braces enshrouding the spacecraft, holding together the DM, SM and PM, I suppose for horizontal loads. Do they become detached once the fairing separates or once the Soyuz rocket is erected some technicians go somehow inside the fairing and remove them?

  
  To the best of my knowledge, these help with load carrying during the launch and likely separate with the shroud or just after the shroud goes.
  
• #128 by ksc_houston on 02 Apr, 2008 16:16
• I have a question for you, guys. With the eventual docking of ATV tomorrow and with the already docked Soyuz and Progress, Expedition 17's Soyuz where will dock ?
• #129 by anik on 02 Apr, 2008 16:22
• Quote

  ksc_houston - 2/4/2008  8:16 PM
  
  With the eventual docking of ATV tomorrow and with the already docked Soyuz and Progress, Expedition 17's Soyuz where will dock?

  
  Quote from http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=61&mid=263644#M263644
  
  "April 3 - Jules Verne docking (to Zvezda)
  April 7 - Progress M-63 undocking (from Pirs)
  April 8 - Soyuz TMA-12 launch [Volkov, Kononenko, Yi So-yeon]
  April 10 - Soyuz TMA-12 docking (to Pirs)"
• #130 by anik on 03 Apr, 2008 14:34
• April 3, 2008 - Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
  http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_04-03.html
  
  "In the assembly/test building primary (Sergey Volkov (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Kononenko (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), So Yeon Yi (South Korea)) and backup (Maksim Suraev (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Skripochka (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), San Ko (South Korea)) crews of the Soyuz TMA-12 transportation spacecraft made a check inspection of the spacecraft in the launch configuration and got acquainted with the delivered and returned equipment"

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• #131 by anik on 04 Apr, 2008 14:22
• April 4, 2008 - Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
  http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_04-04.html
  
  "Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing the Soyuz TMA-12 manned spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV"

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• #132 by anik on 04 Apr, 2008 15:36
• One of new traditions - the planting of trees (elms) in Alley of Cosmonauts in Baikonur before first spaceflight.
  
  Images from Roskosmos website.

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• #133 by catfry on 05 Apr, 2008 06:56
• It will take work to keep those trees alive on the kazakh steppe.
• #134 by tonyq on 05 Apr, 2008 11:04
• The news coverage on Russia Today showed the tree Valentina Tereshkova planted before she was launched back in 1963, and it looked perfectly healthy !!  
• #135 by ShuttleDiscovery on 05 Apr, 2008 11:39
• Strange how Kononenko prefers to wear the blue NASA suits. They look cooler than those shiny russian ones anyway! ;-)
• #136 by catfry on 05 Apr, 2008 11:59
• I thought the tradition of planting trees was in Star City, and that this was new because it was in Baikonur?
• #137 by anik on 05 Apr, 2008 12:06
• Quote

  catfry - 5/4/2008  3:59 PM
  
  I thought the tradition of planting trees was in Star City, and that this was new because it was in Baikonur?

  
  No, in the past, elms were planted in Alley of Cosmonauts in Baikonur by cosmonauts after their first spaceflight, now they are doing that before their first spaceflight. That is why I called this as new tradition.
• #138 by catfry on 05 Apr, 2008 13:13
• Thank you for clarification anik.
• #139 by anik on 05 Apr, 2008 17:00
• The first and second stages of Soyuz-FG rocket were successfully assembled with third stage and ascent unit (with Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft) today.
  
  According to Novosti kosmonavtiki website in today's evening the decision has been accepted to transport Soyuz-FG (11A511U-FG no. Sh15000-024) rocket from the assembly-testing building no. 112 to the pad no. 5 of the launch complex no. 1 at 01:00 UTC tomorrow.