News Soyuz TMA-20 broken in a railway car while being transported to Baikonur

[Orbinaut Pete]

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=13096

Isn't this an Orbital Module (BO), not a Descent Module (SA)?

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Isn't this an Orbital Module (BO), not a Descent Module (SA)?

Looks like an orbital module, but don't quote me on that, I'm not really into the Soyuz series.

Darren

 

[DaveS]

Isn't this an Orbital Module (BO), not a Descent Module (SA)?

Yes it is. You can see the red processing covers on the docking mechanism.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Roscosmos PAO: "About Delivery of Soyuz TMA-20 Descent Capsule to Baikonur".

Descent capsule for the Soyuz TMA-20 vehicle has arrived today at Baikonur’s RSC-Energia subsidiary. The capsule is intended as a replacement for the one of the Soyuz, for which the anomalies had been found during incoming inspection at the space port.
The decision to make the replacement was made following the conclusion by the accident commission set up by RSC-Energia president Vitaly Lopota.
Currently, Soyuz TMA-20 habitable, instrumentation and descent compartments are demated. The experts also prepare for further assembly and tests in line with the schedule, with three-shift work of personnel, together with Energia experts who followed the descent capsule during the shipment.


Here's some more photos of the SA delivery from RSC Energia.

 

[SiberianTiger]

More reassembly pictures (from http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss26/photo_10-13.html):

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Some more photos from RSC Energia.

This photo shows the hatch that the cosmonauts use to access the BO on launch day.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Workers race to replace damaged Soyuz crew capsule.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Some more TMA-20 processing photos from RSC Energia.

Leak checks of the docking system.

Leak checks of the entire spacecraft.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

There will be a delay of two days, which means that Cady Coleman will reach orbit just hours after celebrating her 50th birthday on December 14th! It'll be one helluva present! :thumbup:

RIA Novosti: "Soyuz launch with next ISS crew to be postponed for 2 days".

---------- Post added at 09:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:04 AM ----------

Roscosmos PAO: "Soyuz TMA-20 Prelaunch Processing Continues at Baikonur".

Soyuz TMA-20 assembly and processing activities are in good progress as scheduled in the space vehicle assembly and testing facility.
Vacuum tests of the vehicle have been completed successfully, with no Soyuz leak detected.
Further vehicle assembly and processing operations are performed according to the approved schedule.
Experts prepare Soyuz TMA-20 for electrical tests of its systems, which are to begin on Oct. 27.

Click here for photos.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Roscosmos PAO: "Soyuz Descent Capsule Repaired".

Soyuz descent capsule which had been damaged during railroad transportation to Baikonur is now repaired and ready for integration into Soyuz TMA-21 crew vehicle, Interfax-AVN informs.
Experts of RSC-Energia replaced the latches which fasten thermal screen which protects the vehicle during reentry, following recommendations of the Accident Board.
Energia’s plant has also assessed integrity of the screen, and concluded about its reliability. The descent capsule is approved for further operations.

 

[webtek]

I don't know how that happened. I know a bit about trains, and if that driver was going over the speed limit, he would get a penalty. :hmm: