Updates ISS Soyuz flights updates

[orb]

Soyuz TMA-11M hatch opening coverage is starting now.

 

[N_Molson]

Well done guys ! :thumbup:

 

[Ripley]

When was the last time there was a 9-members crew on ISS?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

When was the last time there was a 9-members crew on ISS?

October 2-11, 2009. Soyuz TMA-14/15/16 was parked to the station - for the first time ever there are 3 Soyuz spacecrafts flying at the same time. However unlike this time 1 of the 9 people on board was not on a long term expedition, and another did not fly on the Soyuz to and fro the station:

List of people on the ISS, October 2-11, 2009

NASA

• Michael Barratt
• Jeffrey Williams
• Nicole Stott (arrived on STS-128 and later return on STS-129)

Roscosmos

• Gennady Padalka
• Roman Romanenko
• Maksim Surayev

ESA

• Frank de Winne

CSA

• Robert Thirsk

Spaceflight participant

• Guy Laliberté

List of people on the ISS, November 7-11, 2013

NASA

• Karen Nyberg
• Michael Hopkins
• Rick Mastracchio

Roscosmos

• Fyodor Yurchikhin
• Oleg Kotov
• Sergey Ryazansky
• Mikhail Tyurin

ESA

• Luca Parmitano

JAXA

• Koichi Wakata

 

[Codz]

Time lapse of the docking.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

With the Olympic Torch venturing space yesterday, this means that Karen, Luca and Fyodor (and the torch itself) can finally head for home!

Hatch closure is scheduled in about 2 hours from now at around 20:00 UTC (NASA TV coverage starts 30 minutes earlier), undocking at 23:26 UTC, de-orbit burn at 01:55 UTC tomorrow and landing is at around 02:49 UTC.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Watch the hatch closing live!
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#.Un_hGRbIafQ

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Good morning! The Soyuz has undocked 10 minutes ago and is free flying over the Pacific. :thumbup:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

De-orbit burn complete.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

And the crew has landed 70 minutes ago right on the bullseye of the predicted landing position! Welcome back!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

 

[N_Molson]

Another good Expedition, well done !:thumbup:

 

[Ripley]

Even Commander Yurchikhin himself messed a bit up the numeration of Expeditions (I do it all the time... :lol!!

One Exp goes up with a designation number, and this number changes along the mission. Sometimes it's confusing.

Another doubt/question...whenever a Soyuz undocks from ISS, how does it gain the initial distance?
Just by means of the spring-loaded release mechanism?
(I'm just assuming it's spring-loaded. I don't know its innards).

 

[N_Molson]

Just by means of the spring-loaded release mechanism?

AFAIK yes, this is included in the docking port assembly. Again in space you don't need a strong impulsion, even to move a 7-tons mass. When sailing I have no problem undocking a 1,5 tons sailboat from the pier by simply pushing (unless the wind blows in the wrong direction), and I'm not strong. So I guess it isn't a problem in space where there is no resistance at all. Each action involves a reaction so the 400-tons ISS must slightly move in the opposite direction, too.

Then, when far enough not to spill burnt hydrazine on the station solar arrays or scientific experiments, a short RCS retro blast and voila, they clear the ISS

 

[IronRain]

This video was uploaded yesterday. It's also being explained in this video (with some shots from Orbiter) :thumbup:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l7MM9yoxII"]Soyuz undocking, reentry and landing explained - YouTube[/ame]

 

[kuddel]

I really like the ESA (HSO) videos of the "Journey to the ISS" series.

I found parts 1 and 3 (see below), but can someone point me to part 2
( if it already exists of course )?

Part 1: The Soyuz launch
Part 3: The Soyus undocking, reentry and landig

/Kuddel

 

[Ripley]

In the comments of one the videos there's a statement that ESA has yet to produce it, and it will be about rendezvous and docking.

 

[kuddel]

In the comments of one the videos there's a statement that ESA has yet to produce it, and it will be about rendezvous and docking.

Thanks for the info.

...and: "rendezvous and docking" would make perfect sense in that series

Part 1: The Soyuz launch
Part 2: The Soyuz rendezvous and docking
Part 3: The Soyus undocking, reentry and landig

/Kuddel
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l7MM9yoxII"][/ame]

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Soyuz TMA-10M landing

I nearly have forgotten to cover for the landing of Kotov, Hopkins and Ryzansky that should occur in 8 hours time.....


..... but luckily heavy snowfall at the landing site has now delayed the landing by one day. So there you go...

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

I nearly have forgotten to cover for the landing of Kotov, Hopkins and Ryzansky that should occur in 8 hours time.....


..... but luckily heavy snowfall at the landing site has now delayed the landing by one day. So there you go...

....and I woke up to find that the landing will occur as planned....

De-orbit burn coming up at 02:30 UTC - landing in snow at 03:24 UTC.