[ryan]

Here we go, im going to put updates on my Pointless Fact thread if that's ok Tiger? I cant wait, this will be my first Russian Space Luanch that i had followed closley.

[SiberianTiger]

Pictures of the Sunday's rollout and rocket's erection on the pad:

[ryan]

I find rollouts very boring.

[SiberianTiger]

Originally Posted by ryan

 Here we go, im going to put updates on my Pointless Fact thread if that's ok Tiger?

Why should I object?

[ryan]

No reason to object.

[SiberianTiger]

Originally Posted by ryan

 I find rollouts very boring.

I find them cool. Do you want me to stop posting notes on launch preparations and just post a short notice that a rocket blasted off? BTW, the time it takes for a Soyuz from beginning of vehicle assembling to launch, including standing on the pad, is fairly shorter than the one it takes for a shuttle.

[unussapiens]

No, please keep posting, it's interesting stuff, and you have some great pics (Any chance you could tell us where you get them?).

Keep up the good work SiberianTiger

[Urwumpe]

Originally Posted by SiberianTiger

 I find them cool. Do you want me to stop posting notes on launch preparations and just post a short notice that a rocket blasted off? BTW, the time it takes for a Soyuz from beginning of vehicle assembling to launch, including standing on the pad, is fairly shorter than the one it takes for a shuttle.

Actually, the time to assemble a R7 launcher is even shorter than for a contemporary western launcher Ariane V or Atlas V. The R7 once managed almost two launches per week for a year - with all launch vehicles coming from the same plant.

But I personally must say, that the assembly of the Shuttle has the more interesting steps.

[SiberianTiger]

Originally Posted by unussapiens

 No, please keep posting, it's interesting stuff, and you have some great pics (Any chance you could tell us where you get them?).

No big secret: the sources are are http://www.federalspace.ru/, http://www.energia.ru/ and sometimes http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/
Note that Enegria's site has a good deal of translated content in the news.

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.russiatoday.ru/scitech/news/23110/video

Sorry, don't have an idea if these video streams can be embedded in the forum page like youtube's.

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.russiatoday.ru/scitech/news/23148/video

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasat..._Breaking.html

April 8, Tuesday
6:15 a.m. - ISS Expedition 17/Spaceflight Participant Launch Coverage from Baikonur, Kazakhstan (launch scheduled at 7:16 a.m. ET) - JSC (All Channels)

[SiberianTiger]

Reminding that the set launch time for the TMA-12 is:
08.04.2008, 17:16:35 Baikonur local time
08.04.2008, 15:16:35 MSD
April 8, 2008, 11:16:35 GMT
April 8, 2008, 7:16:35 A.M. EDT

The launch day events will follow this schedule:

Т-05:30:00 - The State Committee's session to make a decision to begin fueling of the LV
Т-05:15:00 - The primary and backup crews arrive at the Area 254
Т-05:00:00 - Fueling of the Soyuz-FG rocket begins
Т-04:20:00 - The primary crew begins spacesuit donning
Т-03:40:00 - Meeting of the primary crew with The State Commitee's members, technical staff, Roscosmos representatives, Republic of Korea delegation and families.
Т-03:05:00 - The bus will depart carrying the Cosmonauts of the Soyuz TMA-12 from the Area 254 to Area 1
Т-02:45:00 - The bus makes a technical stop
Т-02:00:00 - Crew take seats in the capsule, launch sequence begins

[SiberianTiger]

In English:
http://www.russiatoday.ru/scitech/news/23185/video
In Russian:
http://www.vesti.ru/cvideo.html?id=127765

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st...n17/index.html