Launch News Soyuz TMA-04M, Soyuz-FG, May 15, 2012 (launch, docking and landing updates)

N_Molson

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
9,272
Reaction score
3,244
Points
203
Location
Toulouse
T-9 minutes.

I wouldn't like to be sealed in a Soyuz capsule with a Celine Dion CD jammed into the player. :uhh:
 

Codz

NEA Scout Wrencher
Donator
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
3,586
Reaction score
1
Points
61
Location
Huntsville, AL
Preferred Pronouns
He/Him
I bet they get extra training to withstand it.:lol:
 

N_Molson

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
9,272
Reaction score
3,244
Points
203
Location
Toulouse
T-6 minutes. Complete silence then loud russian announces in the base speakers. Its getting serious.

---------- Post added at 03:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:56 AM ----------

T-2 minutes. Vents closed.

---------- Post added at 03:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:00 AM ----------

Masts are retracting.

---------- Post added at 03:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:01 AM ----------

Liftoff !!

---------- Post added at 03:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:02 AM ----------

First stages separation.

---------- Post added at 03:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:04 AM ----------

Acaba is lucky, he got the window seat ! :)

Everything is normalno.
 

N_Molson

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
9,272
Reaction score
3,244
Points
203
Location
Toulouse
Stage 2 separation confirmed.

---------- Post added at 03:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:07 AM ----------

T+6 min 45 sec. Stage 3 operating nominally.
 

N_Molson

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
9,272
Reaction score
3,244
Points
203
Location
Toulouse
Stage 3 burnout and separation. Impressive how the cosmonauts were pushed in their straps !

Separation nominal, SoyuzTMA-04M in orbit. Beginning the activation sequence.

---------- Post added at 03:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:12 AM ----------

Crew has begun their orbital activities, checking measurements and copying down data on their paper boards. Everything seems ok.

---------- Post added at 03:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 AM ----------

Orbital parameters checked. Perfect launch. :thumbup:

Crew allowed to open the helmets.

---------- Post added at 03:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:18 AM ----------

Inclination 51.67°, from what I heard.

---------- Post added at 03:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:20 AM ----------

OK, that was a very nice one. Time to go to bed ! :thumbup:
 

Codz

NEA Scout Wrencher
Donator
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
3,586
Reaction score
1
Points
61
Location
Huntsville, AL
Preferred Pronouns
He/Him
Congratulations to Roscosmos and NASA for putting another crew into orbit safely.:thumbup:
 

Orbinaut Pete

ISSU Project Manager
News Reporter
Joined
Aug 5, 2008
Messages
4,264
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Soyuz does it again!

Gennady, you've returned too soon - it's like you never even left space! :lol:
 

orb

O-F Administrator,
News Reporter
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
14,020
Reaction score
4
Points
0
Replay of the launch

Here's calendar event for docking to ISS. You can request a reminder for it here.


Following events timeline:
{colsp=4}
MET
|
UTC
|
EDT
| EVENT
DD
|
HH
|
MM
|
SS
|
HH:MM:SS
|
HH:MM:SS
|
DATE

{colsp=7}
2012-05-15

00  |03  |35  |29  |06:36:52  |02:36:52 a.m.  |DV1 (24.27 m/s)

00|04|17|55|07:19:18|03:19:18 a.m.|DV2 (7.42 m/s)

{colsp=7}
2012-05-16

01|01|09|42|04:11:05|12:11:05 a.m.|DV3 (2.00 m/s)

{colsp=7}
2012-05-17 UTC / 05/16/12 EDT

01|23|17|23|02:18:46|10:18:46 p.m.|AR&D automated rendezvous start

01|23|38|47|02:40:10|10:40:10 p.m.|AR&D DV4/impulse 1 (34.993 m/s)

02|00|01|54|03:03:17|11:03:17 p.m.|AR&D impulse 2 (1.439 m/s)

02|00|03|37|03:05:00|11:05:00 p.m.|Soyuz Kurs-A activation

02|00|05|37|03:07:00|11:07:00 p.m.|SM Kurs-P activation

02|00|21|03|03:22:26|11:22:26 p.m.|Range = 100 km: Soyuz VHF-2 voice link

02|00|24|52|03:26:15|11:26:15 p.m.|AR&D DV5/impulse 3 (31.827 m/s)

02|00|27|23|03:28:46|11:28:46 p.m.|Range = 80 km: Valid Kurs-P range data

02|00|49|23|03:50:46|11:50:46 p.m.|Range = 15 km: Kurs-A & Kurs-P short test

02|00|57|23|03:58:46|11:58:46 p.m.|Range = 8 km: Soyuz TV activation

{colsp=7}
2012-05-17

02|01|07|11|04:08:34|12:08:34 a.m.|AR&D impulse 4 (6.381 m/s)

02|01|07|23|04:08:46|12:08:46 a.m.|AR&D ballistic targeting point

02|01|11|48|04:13:11|12:13:11 a.m.|AR&D impulse 5 (6.494 m/s)

02|01|14|38|04:16:01|12:16:01 a.m.|AR&D impulse 6 (1.657 m/s)

02|01|17|29|04:18:52|12:18:52 a.m.|AR&D flyaround mode start

02|01|23|42|04:25:05|12:25:05 a.m.|AR&D stationkeeping start

02|01|26|37|04:28:00|12:28:00 a.m.|AR&D final approach start

02|01|37|06|04:38:29|12:38:29 a.m.|DOCKING

02|01|51|06|04:52:29|12:52:29 a.m.|Soyuz hooks closed: ISS to dock attitude



NASA Press Release: RELEASE : 12-156 - Expedition 31 Trio Blasts Off for International Space Station


SPACE.com:
RIA Novosti: Soyuz TMA-04M Blasts off toward Space Station


Florida Today:
Universe Today: Expedition 31 Blasts Off!


Discovery News: Successful Soyuz Launch Sends Three to Space Station


Spaceflight Now: Latest manned space launch safely takes flight to orbit



 

boogabooga

Bug Crusher
Joined
Apr 16, 2011
Messages
2,999
Reaction score
1
Points
0
How many g is the launch? How smooth is the flight?

Those guys look awfully relaxed for being on a launching rocket.
 

Urwumpe

Not funny anymore
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Feb 6, 2008
Messages
37,588
Reaction score
2,312
Points
203
Location
Wolfsburg
Preferred Pronouns
Sire
How many g is the launch? How smooth is the flight?

Those guys look awfully relaxed for being on a launching rocket.

The first stage flight is said to be pretty smooth, but the second and third stages are a bit rougher.

Peak acceleration is at around 4g (4.25 g at 110 seconds, according to Arianespace), if I remember correctly. Less (vibrations) than the Space Shuttle, but the STS did give the crew a lot more shaking.
 
Last edited:

Ripley

Tutorial translator
Donator
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
3,133
Reaction score
407
Points
123
Location
Rome
Website
www.tuttovola.org
For a moment they look kind of..."scared" by that serious bump at separation!!
 

Urwumpe

Not funny anymore
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Feb 6, 2008
Messages
37,588
Reaction score
2,312
Points
203
Location
Wolfsburg
Preferred Pronouns
Sire
For a moment they look kind of..."scared" by that serious bump at separation!!

I don't know how you would feel if acceleration suddenly drops from 4.25g to 1 g (OK, first from 4.25 to 3.8g and then a gradual decrease by 0.1g while the boosters rotate outside for about 4 seconds). Then suddenly to 1g when the boosters separate)

---------- Post added at 11:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:16 AM ----------

Likely because it used solids, they produce a much rougher ride if I understand correctly.

Not only that. The side-mount of the Shuttle causes actually the worst vibrations, since the shockwaves at the transition to supersonic flight (around Max-Q) are trapped between ET and Shuttle.
 

C3PO

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Feb 11, 2008
Messages
2,604
Reaction score
17
Points
53
Peak acceleration is at around 4g (4.25 g at 110 seconds, according to Arianespace), if I remember correctly. Less than the Space Shuttle, but the STS did give the crew a lot more shaking.

Wow! 110 seconds? I didn't realize that the 1'st stage "boosters" packed that much punch. There's still quite a bit of fuel on board. The STS didn't reach max acceleration until just before MECO, when it throttles down to maintain ~3g (IIRC).
 

FADEC

New member
Joined
Mar 25, 2011
Messages
1,207
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Peak acceleration is at around 4g (4.25 g at 110 seconds, according to Arianespace), if I remember correctly. Less than the Space Shuttle,

Wasn't the acceleration on the Shuttle only 3g maximum?

I don't know how you would feel if acceleration suddenly drops from 4.25g to 1 g (OK, first from 4.25 to 3.8g and then a gradual decrease by 0.1g while the boosters rotate outside for about 4 seconds). Then suddenly to 1g when the boosters separate)

Isn't it even 0g? I think Ripley meant the third stage separation at 09:30 in the video.
 
Top