anik - 5/4/2008 7:06 AM
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.
The Soyuz TMA-11 crew also planted their trees pre-flight, per Peggy Whitson's
journal.
collectSPACE - 5/4/2008 10:01 PM
The Soyuz TMA-11 crew also planted their trees pre-flight, per Peggy Whitson's journal
Yes, I have forgotten to specify that the tradition of planting of trees before spaceflight has started from Soyuz TMA-11.
I just got back from the Roll-out, it started at 07:00 local time, hi res pictures on L2
April 5, 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.
In the LV Integration and Checkout Facility, the basic integration of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the upper composite has been completed.
Photo-report
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_04-05.htmlA meeting of the Technical management under the chairmanship of RSC Energia President and General Designer V.A. Lopota and State commission was held. A decision on rollout of the launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned spacecraft to the launch facility and its preparation for launch planned for April 8, 2008 was adopted.
Photo-report
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_04-05-02.html
April 6, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia.
A rollout of the Soyuz spacecraft from the assembly-test facility to the launch site was provided. The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-12 transport spacecraft was erected on the launch pad. Operations under the launch minus two days program began.
The launch of the Soyuz-FG integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft to the ISS Orbital Complex is planned for 08.04.2008 at 15:16 Moscow time.
Photo-report
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_04-06.html
I can't find any info on whether this launch will be carried live on NTV.
According to Russia Today TV, the State Commission have approved to prime crew of Volkov, Kononenko and Yi for the flight.
Any news about the Expedition 17 Press Kit ?
April 7, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia.
A meeting of the State commission was held. Director of Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center V.V. Tsibliev reported about the crew readiness for the planned spaceflight. RSC Energia President and General Designer V.A. Lopota reported about readiness of the Soyuz FG/Soyuz TMA-12 rocket-space complex for further prelaunch processing. The State commission approved the prime and backup crews for the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft and the ISS-17 and also a decision was adopted to continue preparation of the Soyuz-FG/Soyuz TMA-12 rocket-space complex for fueling and launch at the set time on April 8, 2008, namely at 15 hr. 16 min Moscow time.
The Prime Crew: spacecraft commander, ISS-17 commander – test cosmonaut of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, RF Air Force Lieutenant-Colonel Sergey Alexandrovich Volkov; spacecraft flight engineer, ISS-17 flight engineer – S.P. Korolev RSC Energia test cosmonaut Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko; spaceflight participant of the ISS visiting crew, South Korea citizen, So Yeon Yi.
Photo-report
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss17/photo_04-07.html
Moved for live coverage (still half a day away, but obviously a big launch).
NASA - International Space Station Section
New Station Crew Prepares For Launch Tuesday
The Progress 28 cargo ship undocked from the International Space Station at 4:50 a.m. EDT Monday and headed into its deorbit and destructive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. The Progress, which has been attached to the station since February, had been loaded with trash and discards before its departure. The Pirs docking compartment is now open for the arrival Thursday of the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft carrying the Expedition 17 crew and a South Korean spaceflight participant.
The Expedition 17 crew continued to make last-minute preparations before Tuesday’s launch to the station. Commander Sergei Volkov, Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko and spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi are scheduled to launch at 7:16 a.m. EDT Tuesday aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Aboard the station, the Expedition 16 crew members unloaded cargo from the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle, which arrived last week. In addition to performing regular exercise and maintenance duties, Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko reviewed descent procedures for their return to Earth. Whitson, Malenchenko and spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi are scheduled to leave the station April 19th in Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft. Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, now an Expedition 16 crew member, will join Expedition 17.
PHOTO: A view of the Progress 28 cargo ship as it undocked from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV
RUSSIA TODAY Video Release
Soyuz crew enjoy old movie before take-off
Crew have left the Cosmonaut hotel are on their way to Building 254
Guys, before this thread begins to gather pace, I should declare an interest here.
I’ve been communicating very regularly with Soyeon since December 2006, when I picked her out from the final ten candidates and asked her if she’d like to appear in Spaceflight magazine. She agreed, got selected in the final two, three weeks later and the rest is history, or it will be very soon.
When she got to Russia in March 2007, she suggested we communicate via MSN, and so we’ve done that every few days, over the last year. I’ve grown to admire her intellect, skill and courage, all combined with a sparkling personality, and we’ve become good cyber friends.
Ofcourse, I shared her sadness when Ko San got the prime seat in September, and her joy when they were swopped four weeks ago.
So, I do feel a certain apprehension this morning, but not half of what I know she is feeling right now.
She’s had a real rollercoaster over the last year, and especially in the last month. At the end of February she was in a state of despair over not being able to go home to Korea to collect her doctorate, but a week later was in the prime seat.
The timing of that change left her very little time to gather her thoughts and prepare mentally for today. She’d never been to Baikonur before, or seen a launch live, and last Thursday was the first time she’d seen a Soyuz booster. She's found it all a little overwhelming, to say the least.
She’s absolutely thrilled to be flying the mission, can’t wait to get to ISS, but is very nervous about today, so let’s all cross our fingers for Soyeon, in particular, and hope that she finds the peace of mind and inner strength, to enjoy the ride up this morning.
Nicolas PILLET - 8/4/2008 1:33 PM
Cosmonauts were delivered to the launch pad !
Not to the launch pad itself yet, just to the preparatory facility where they are donning their spacesuits.