Station Prepares For New Arrival


Image above: Al Wadj Bank, Saudi Arabia is featured in this image photographed by an
Expedition 16 crew member on the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

The Expedition 16 crew aboard the International Space Station focused on preparations to receive Europe’s new unpiloted resupply ship, The “Jules Verne” Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), Thursday.

At 2 a.m. EDT, the ATV fired it engines, bringing it out of a parking orbit and putting it into position to make its first demonstration approach to the station. The demonstration approach, which is scheduled for Saturday, will bring the ATV within three kilometers of the station.

The ATV is scheduled to make its final approach and dock to the International Space Station on April 3.

To prepare for the ATV, the crew completed rendezvous and docking training exercises, simulating the craft’s final approach in case they may be called upon to override the ATV’s automatic docking controls and abort the approach.

In addition to regular station maintenance, crew members completed their daily physical exercise routines and completed a “space weigh-in” to help measure and counteract the effects of long-term exposure to weightlessness in space.

Source: NASA - Space Station

March 26, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Primary (Sergey Alexandrovich Volkov (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), Soyeon Ye (South Korea)) and backup (Maksim Viktorovich Suraev (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Ivanovich Skripochka (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), San Ko (South Korea)) crews of the Soyuz TMA-12 transportation spacecraft arrived to the Baikonur launch site. At the airport they were met by the first vice president, first deputy designer general of RSC Energia Nikolai Ivanovich Zelenshchikov and other managers of the Corporation.
Commanders of the crews reported on their readiness for pre-flight training and Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft acceptance.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

March 26, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned spacecraft under the International Space Station program.
At the spacecraft processing facility, a poster with mission logo was pasted on the payload fairing of the launch vehicle.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

March 27, 2008. Baikonur launch site, S.P.Korolev RSC Energia branch office

The primary and backup crews of the ISS Expedition 17 and Taxi Mission 14 have entered into their final training phase in the processing facility. Sergey Volkov (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Kononenko (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), Soyeon Ye (South Korea) have inspected the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft, tried on Sokol-KV spacesuits and customized contoured couches, went through the on-board documentation and the launch manifest, checked their radio communications equipment, as well as conducted a training session for scientific experiments.




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Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

March 27, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned spacecraft under the International Space Station program.
The Technical Management meeting took place, which made a decision to fuel Soyuz TMA-12 vehicle with propellant components and compressed gases.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

Crew Makes Preparations For Automated Transfer Vehicle


Image above: Astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, exercises on the Cycle
Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System (CEVIS) in the Destiny Laboratory.
Credit: NASA

The Expedition 16 crew members aboard the International Space Station continued their preparations to receive Europe’s new unpiloted resupply ship, the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

At 2 a.m. EDT, Thursday, the ATV fired it engines, bringing it out of a parking orbit and putting it into position to make its first demonstration approach to the station. During its first approach, which is scheduled for Saturday, the ATV will fire its engines several times to bring it approximately two miles from the station. Once in position, the ATV will conduct thruster firings and other systems tests before it pulls back into a phasing orbit.

The ATV is scheduled to make its final approach and dock to the International Space Station on April 3.

To prepare for the ATV, the crew members completed rendezvous and docking training exercises, simulating the craft’s final approach in case they may be called upon to override the ATV’s automatic docking controls and abort the approach.

In addition to regular station maintenance, crew members conducted hearing tests and completed their daily physical exercise routines to help counteract the effects of long-term exposure to weightlessness in space.

Source: NASA - Space Station

March 29, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned vehicle fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

March 30, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

The Jules Verne Approaches the Station


Image above: The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle approaches the International
Space Station.
Credit: NASA TV

The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle approached the International Space Station on Monday for its "Demo Day 2" practice maneuvers. It moved to within 36 feet of the Zvezda Service Module in a rehearsal for docking on Thursday.

The Jules Verne reached its closest point to the station at 12:38 p.m. EDT, at which time it was commanded by the crew to retreat to a point 62 feet away. From there it executed an "escape" command to depart the station for its three-day phasing prior to final approach and docking around 10:41 a.m. Thursday.

During its first approach Saturday, the ATV fired its engines several times to bring it approximately two miles from the station. Once in position, the Jules Verne conducted thruster firings and other systems tests before it pulled back into a phasing orbit..

Source: NASA - Space Station

April 1, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Designers inspection of the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft was completed.




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Payload shroud roll on to the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft was performed.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

Crew Conducts Science, Preps for Jules Verne Docking


Image above: Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Commander Peggy Whitson monitor
the approach of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle on Monday.
Credit: NASA TV

The Expedition 16 crew of the International Space Station returned to science and station maintenance activities Tuesday after Monday’s successful test approach of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman worked together to set up equipment for a periodic physical fitness evaluation. Reisman exercised on the station’s cycle ergometer while wearing a heart rate monitor. Whitson collected data from this session, which exercise physiologists and flight surgeons will use to assess Reisman’s health and make adjustments to his exercise regimen if needed.

Later, Reisman worked in the Quest airlock, performing maintenance on the cooling loops of the U.S. spacesuits.

In preparation for the ATV docking on Thursday, Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko checked the hardware needed to perform leak checks in the event of a failure in the power unit of the cargo carrier’s depress valve.

The Jules Verne approached the station on Monday for its "Demo Day 2" practice maneuvers. It moved to within 36 feet of the Zvezda Service Module in a rehearsal for docking on Thursday.

The ATV reached its closest point to the station at 12:38 p.m. EDT, at which time it was commanded by the crew to retreat to a point 62 feet away. From there it executed an "escape" command to depart the station for its three-day phasing prior to final approach and docking around 10:41 a.m. Thursday.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Crew Prepares for Docking of Jules Verne


Image above: The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle as seen from various angles on
the International Space Station during its practice approach Monday.
Credit: NASA TV

The International Space Station Mission Management Team has given the official “go” for Thursday’s docking of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) to the aft port of the station’s Zvezda Service Module at 10:41 a.m. EDT.

However, Russian controllers may request a slightly longer stationkeeping by the ATV at the 62-foot-point from the Service Module. This will enable specialists to assess lighting conditions after what was seen during Monday's practice maneuvers.

Jules Verne is the first fully automated resupply spacecraft to travel to the station. It will bring eight tons of cargo and remain docked until August.

To prepare for the coming of the ATV, Expedition 16 crew members spent time Wednesday reviewing their procedures associated with any off-nominal occurrences during docking.

Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko also began packing for their upcoming departure from the station in just over two weeks.

Source: NASA - Space Station

ATV Jules Verne Docks with Station


Image above: The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle prepares to dock to the International
Space Station.
Credit: NASA TV

The Jules Verne, the first European Space Agency Automated Transfer Vehicle, docked to the aft port of the International Space Station's Zvezda Service Module at 10:45 a.m. EDT Thursday.

The unpiloted cargo spacecraft carries more than 7,500 pounds of equipment, supplies, water, fuel and gases for the station.

It also carries hopes and aspirations of the European Space Agency. The ATV and its advanced rendezvous system could play an important role in future space exploration.

The Jules Verne docked smoothly using its automated, laser guided rendezvous system. It was in many respects a repeat of the dry run on Monday. That practice approach brought the ATV to within 36 feet of the docking port.

The Jules Verne launched from Kourou, French Guiana, on an Ariane 5 rocket on March 9.

Solar arrays deployed as planned after two engine firings more than an hour and a half after launch. That placed the ATV in a parking orbit about 1,200 miles from the station.

It was, at almost 22 tons, the largest payload ever launched by the Ariane 5.

The Jules Verne is named after the acclaimed French science-fiction author. It is the first of perhaps seven such spacecraft to be built.

The ATV can carry about three times the cargo weight carried by the Progress, the reliable Russian unpiloted cargo carrier.

The Jules Verne initially was placed in an orbit a safe distance from the station, where a series of tests were performed. Among the last of the tests were two approaches to the station.

Those approaches ended in "escape" maneuvers, to verify a collision avoidance system. It would be used if the ATV automated docking system should fail.

The spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the station until August, for unloading and to reboost the orbiting laboratory. Subsequently it will be filled with station garbage and discards. Then it will be deorbited for destruction on re-entry over the Pacific.

Source: NASA - Space Station

The press release is reproduced below:

Michael Cabbage
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
mcabbage@nasa.gov


RELEASE: 08-092

Statement by NASA Administrator on ATV Docking

WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin after today's successful docking of the European Space Agency's Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle to the International Space Station at 10:45 a.m. EDT Thursday.

"I am incredibly proud of and pleased for our European partners with this demonstration of a successful automated docking of the ATV cargo vehicle with the ISS. Only Russia has previously achieved a successful automated docking in space. This accomplishment showcases yet again the progress which has been made by the international partnership in bringing this incredible program to fruition. Together with the arrival of the Columbus Module at the ISS earlier this year, the success of the ATV marks the arrival of Europe as a full-fledged space power. I applaud their achievement."

For information about the International Space Station, visit:


Source: NASA Press Release 08-092

I know NASA has done the numbers on the cost and ect tech values needed to do these supply and what not but it still seems a great waste to burn all that hardware up into re-entry ? Dosnt some of it actually make it through also? what about that? DONTEATUS

Why would NASA do that, ESA are paying for it.


What would you do with it. After 6 months it is esentially out of fuel and full of rubbish?


Unlikely but even if it did it will be re-entered ove the Pacific in the same way that the Russians have been doing with there discarded Progress freighters for years and as they did with the Salyut 6, 7 and Mir space stations.

Please go and read some of the posts in the ATV topic, this has been discussed in detail there, starting with THIS POST.

April 3, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

In the assembly/test building primary (Sergey Volkov (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Kononenko (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), So Yeon Yi (South Korea)) and backup (Maksim Suraev (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia), Oleg Skripochka (S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Russia), San Ko (South Korea)) crews of the Soyuz TMA-12 transportation spacecraft made a check inspection of the spacecraft in the launch configuration and got acquainted with equipment to be delivered and returned to the ground, as well as inspected Progress M-64 cargo vehicle which will be launched to the ISS in May 2008.




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Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

ATV Jules Verne Docks with Station

04.03.08

The Jules Verne, the first European Space Agency Automated Transfer Vehicle, docked to the aft port of the International Space Station's Zvezda Service Module at 10:45 a.m. EDT Thursday.


Image above: The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle approaches the aft port
of the International Space Station's Zvezda Service Module for docking.
Image credit: NASA TV

The unpiloted cargo spacecraft carries more than 7,500 pounds of equipment, supplies, water, fuel and gases for the station.

It also carries hopes and aspirations of the European Space Agency. The ATV and its advanced rendezvous system could play an important role in future space exploration.

The Jules Verne docked smoothly using its automated, laser guided rendezvous system. It was in many respects a repeat of the dry run on Monday. That practice approach brought the ATV to within 36 feet of the docking port.

The Jules Verne launched from Kourou, French Guiana, on an Ariane 5 rocket on March 9.

Solar arrays deployed as planned after two engine firings more than an hour and a half after launch. That placed the ATV in a parking orbit about 1,200 miles from the station.


Image above: The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle docks to aft
port of the International Space Station's Zvezda Service Module.
Image credit: NASA TV

It was, at almost 22 tons, the largest payload ever launched by the Ariane 5.

The Jules Verne is named after the acclaimed French science-fiction author. It is the first of perhaps seven such spacecraft to be built.

The ATV can carry about three times the cargo weight carried by the Progress, the reliable Russian unpiloted cargo carrier.

The Jules Verne initially was placed in an orbit a safe distance from the station, where a series of tests were performed. Among the last of the tests were two approaches to the station.

Those approaches ended in "escape" maneuvers, to verify a collision avoidance system. It would be used if the ATV automated docking system should fail.

The spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the station until August, for unloading and to reboost the orbiting laboratory. Subsequently it will be filled with station garbage and discards. Then it will be deorbited for destruction on re-entry over the Pacific.

Source: NASA - Space Station - Expeditions

Station Crew Welcomes the Jules Verne Vehicle


Image above: The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle docks to the aft port of the
International Space Station's Zvezda Service Module on Thursday.
Credit: NASA TV

The Expedition 16 crew wrapped up a busy week that saw the arrival and docking of the newest European Space Agency cargo ship, the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle, to the International Space Station on Thursday.

The station’s residents got their first look inside the Jules Verne after hatches were opened around 6:15 a.m. EDT Friday. The crew installed air scrubbers in the space freighter and will begin unloading cargo over the weekend.

The unpiloted cargo spacecraft carries more than 7,500 pounds of equipment, supplies, water, fuel and gases for the station.

The Jules Verne docked to the aft port of the International Space Station's Zvezda Service Module at 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

The Jules Verne docked smoothly using its automated, laser guided rendezvous system. It was in many respects a repeat of the dry run on March 31. That practice approach brought the ATV to within 36 feet of the docking port.

After the successful docking, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin responded, "I am incredibly proud of and pleased for our European partners with this demonstration of a successful automated docking of the ATV cargo vehicle with the ISS. Only Russia has previously achieved a successful automated docking in space. This accomplishment showcases yet again the progress which has been made by the international partnership in bringing this incredible program to fruition. Together with the arrival of the Columbus Module at the ISS earlier this year, the success of the ATV marks the arrival of Europe as a full-fledged space power. I applaud their achievement."

Meanwhile, the Expedition 17 crew, Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko, and spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi are preparing for Tuesday’s launch aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They will dock with the station on Thursday.

Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, currently aboard the station as an Expedition 16 crew member, will join Expedition 17. Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko will return to Earth aboard their Soyuz spacecraft with Yi on April 19.

Source: NASA - Space Station

April 4, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing the Soyuz TMA-12 manned spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

April 5, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

In the LV Integration and Checkout Facility, the basic integration of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the upper composite has been completed.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

April 5, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

A 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.



Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

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.




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Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

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.

The Backup Crew: spacecraft commander, ISS-17 commander – test cosmonaut of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Colonel of RF Air Force Maksim Viktorovich Suraev; spacecraft flight engineer, ISS-17 flight engineer – S.P. Korolev RSC Energia test cosmonaut Oleg Ivanovich Skripochka; spaceflight participant of the ISS visiting crew, South Korea citizen, San Ko.




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Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

New Station Crew Prepares For Launch Tuesday


Image above: A view of the Progress 28 cargo ship as it undocked from the International
Space Station.
Credit: NASA TV

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.

Source: NASA - Space Station

April 8, 2008, Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

The Soyuz-FG integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-12 transport manned spacecraft was launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur cosmodrome at 15:16:39 Moscow time.
The crews of the ISS 17th prime expedition (ISS-17) and 14th visiting expedition (VC-14) are aboard the Russian space vehicle. The vehicle crew includes Sergey Volkov (Russian test cosmonaut from Yu.A. Gagarin CTC, spacecraft commander, ISS-17 commander), Oleg Kononenko (Russian test cosmonaut from S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, spacecraft flight engineer, ISS-17 flight engineer), as well as citizen of South Korea, participant of space flight So Yeon Yi.



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Source: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia

Expedition 17 Crew Launches from Baikonur


Image above: Expedition 17 launches aboard a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan..
Credit: NASA TV

Commander Sergei Alexandrovich Volkov and cosmonaut Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko of the 17th International Space Station crew launched in their Soyuz TMA-12 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 7:16 a.m. EDT Tuesday to begin a six-month stay in space.

Less than 10 minutes after launch their spacecraft reached orbit, and its antennas and solar arrays were deployed shortly afterwards.

With Volkov, a lieutenant colonel in the Russian Air Force, and Kononenko is spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi. She is a South Korean flying under contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency.

Yi will return to Earth with Expedition 16 crew members, Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko in their Soyuz TMA-11 on April 19. Expedition 16 launched to the station Oct. 10.

Expedition 17 crew members will be welcomed by the Expedition 16 crew, including astronaut Garrett Reisman, after their docking to the orbiting laboratory, scheduled for Thursday. Reisman launched to the station on the STS-123 mission of Endeavour March 11. He joined Expedition 16 in progress and will provide Expedition 17 with an experienced flight engineer for the first part of its increment.

Volkov, 35, is making his first flight into space. He is a graduate of the Tambov Air Force Academy for Pilots. After service as an air force pilot he began cosmonaut training in December 1997. He trained with the Expedition 11 crew and as a backup Expedition 13 crew member. He is the son of cosmonaut Alexander Volkov, who flew three long-duration missions in Soviet and Russian space stations from 1985 to 1992.

Kononenko, 43, also is making his first spaceflight. He is a graduate of the Aviation Institute and worked at the Russian Space Agency's Central Specialized Design Bureau. He began cosmonaut training in June 1996. He trained with the Expedition 9 and Expedition 11 crews.

Astronaut Greg Chamitoff is scheduled to launch on the STS-124 flight of Discovery to join Expedition 17 in progress. He holds a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was selected as an astronaut for the class of 1998. He will be making his first spaceflight.

Two Expedition 18 crew members are expected to arrive next fall to replace Volkov and Kononenko.

Source: NASA - Space Station

They kinda make it look easy,the way and speed they launch.just my slant DONTEATUS . Is it twenty million for a ride still?

I'm sure it's a pretty penny to hitch a ride. I'm just glad they carefully select who they haul up and that the people they do take on as "space flight participants" actually have some substance.


I can remember being totally appalled that Lance Bass of that boy group ...whatever it was called, had actually been considered for a ride to the ISS sometime back. Fortunately, it didn't happen and we got someone of quality like Anousheh Ansari!

I guarantee you, D, it's not easy....but they do a hell of a job over there in Russia!

Expedition 17 Crew Headed To Station


Image above: Expedition 17 launches aboard a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan..
Credit: NASA TV

After Tuesday’s successful launch, the Expedition 17 crew members are headed to their new home aboard the International Space Station. Commander Sergei Volkov, Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko and spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi launched at 7:16 a.m. EDT in a Soyuz TMA-12 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Less than ten minutes later, the spacecraft reached orbit and its antennas and solar arrays were deployed. Expedition 17 will be welcomed by the Expedition 16 crew after docking to the orbiting laboratory, scheduled for Thursday.

Expedition 17 crew members Volkov and Kononenko will begin a six-month stay in space. Spaceflight participant Yi will return to Earth with Expedition 16 crew members Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko on April 19.

Whitson and Malenchenko launched to the station Oct. 10. Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman launched to the station on the STS-123 mission of Endeavour March 11. He joined Expedition 16 in progress and will continue his tour with the Expedition 17 crew.

Aboard the station, Whitson, Malenchenko and Reisman took a break from their daily activities to watch the launch of Expedition 17. They also reviewed the flight plan for spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi, familiarizing themselves with the experiments and Earth photography she will be conducting during her nine-day visit on the complex.

Source: NASA - Space Station

I think thats what Burt Rutan and Richard Branson are shooting for the general public with deep pockets rides. 250,000 a seat for a low orbit arch ride the way I see the first years till some of the later planed station work gets done if that ever happens.I for one think its ok If everyone understands the danger? DONTEATUS

Low orbit arch? The phrase you are looking for is sub-orbital.

Spaceship 2 will reach space in terms of altitude but will be travelling many thousands of miles an hour too slow to achieve orbit. As a result of this relatively low velocity Spaceship 2 will not have to undergo the fiery re-entry we are familiar with when the shuttle or a Soyuz lands. It will be more like a high altitude aircraft flight than an orbital flight, but with the bonus of a few minutes of zero-g. As such it will be considerably safer than orbital spaceflight.

Will there be some danger.. of course but then there was an element of danger in the early days of air travel. It is only by opening up space in this way that the danger will be reduced.

Anyway lets not take this thread too off topic.

Expedition 17 To Arrive At Space Station Thursday


Image above: At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft
lifted off to carry Expedition 17 to the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

After Tuesday’s successful launch, the Expedition 17 crew members are headed to their new home aboard the International Space Station. Commander Sergei Volkov, Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko and spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi launched at 7:16 a.m. EDT in a Soyuz TMA-12 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The orbiter and crew are scheduled to dock with the station about 9 a.m. Thursday.

Volkov and Kononenko will begin a six-month stay in space. Spaceflight participant Yi will return to Earth with Expedition 16 crew members, Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko, on April 19.

Whitson and Malenchenko launched to the station Oct. 10. Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman launched to the station on the STS-123 mission of Endeavour March 11. He joined Expedition 16 in progress and will continue his tour with the Expedition 17 crew.

Aboard the station, the Expedition 16 crew performed maintenance tasks Wednesday during a light-duty day in preparation for the arrival of the new residents to the station. The crew also organized hardware and materials to be brought back with Whitson and Malenchenko aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on April 19.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Its sure not like opening your door at home ,tonite they are all looking great at the ISS what a day it must be up there. DONTEATUS

Expedition 17 Welcomed Aboard Space Station


Image above: The crew members of Expeditions 16 and 17 participate in an interview aboard
the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA
Commander Sergei Alexandrovich Volkov and cosmonaut Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko of the 17th International Space Station crew docked their Soyuz TMA-12 with the orbiting laboratory's Pirs Docking Compartment at 8:57 a.m. EDT Thursday, marking the beginning of their six-month stay aboard.

With Volkov, a lieutenant colonel in the Russian Air Force, and Kononenko was spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi. She is a South Korean flying under contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency.

Yi will return to Earth with Expedition 16 crew members Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko in their Soyuz TMA-11 on April 19. Expedition 16 launched to the station Oct. 10.

After the hatches opened at 11:40 a.m., the Expedition 17 crew members were welcomed by the Expedition 16 crew, including astronaut Garrett Reisman. Reisman launched to the station on the STS-123 mission of Endeavour March 11. He joined Expedition 16 in progress and will provide Expedition 17 with an experienced flight engineer for the first part of its increment.

Volkov, 35, is making his first flight into space. He is a graduate of the Tambov Air Force Academy for Pilots. After service as an air force pilot he began cosmonaut training in December 1997. He trained with the Expedition 11 crew and as a backup Expedition 13 crew member. He is the son of cosmonaut Alexander Volkov, who flew three long-duration missions in Soviet and Russian space stations from 1985 to 1992.

Kononenko, 43, also is making his first spaceflight. He is a graduate of the Aviation Institute and worked at the Russian Space Agency's Central Specialized Design Bureau. He began cosmonaut training in June 1996. He trained with the Expedition 9 and Expedition 11 crews.

Astronaut Greg Chamitoff is scheduled to launch on the STS-124 flight of Discovery to join Expedition 17 in progress. He holds a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was selected as an astronaut for the class of 1998. He will be making his first spaceflight.

Two Expedition 18 crew members are expected to arrive next fall to replace Volkov and Kononenko.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Work Begins For New Station Crew


Image above: The Semien Mountains, Gonder, northern Ethiopia are featured in this image
photographed by an Expedition 16 crew member on the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA

After Thursday’s successful docking, the Expedition 17 crew members spent their first full day aboard the International Space Station familiarizing themselves with their new home and working on a variety of experiments.

The Expedition 16 and 17 crews began work on Bioemulsion, a Russian microorganism project, and ELITE-S2, an Italian Space Agency project that studies connections between the brain, motion and visualization in the absence of gravity.

Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov and Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko installed a temperature sensor switching unit as well as other hardware into the newly arrived Soyuz. Volkov also performed a Soyuz communications link check with Expedition 17 Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko.

Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson and Expedition 17 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman participated in interviews with a New York radio program and a television station in Iowa. Whitson also performed some maintenance work on the U.S. spacesuits.

Whitson, Malenchenko and spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi are scheduled to return to Earth in the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on April 19.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Station Crews Conduct Experiments and Interviews


Image above: The Expedition 16 and Expedition 17 crew members along with their South
Korean guest talk to reporters from the United States and Russia.
Credit: NASA TV

The incoming and outgoing station crews continue science experiments onboard the International Space Station. Investigations include studying the coarsening of particles suspended in a liquid comprised of a molten tin/lead alloy. Results could be used to improve the manufacturing processes of materials on Earth.

Another study seeks to understand changes in the human body during and after a long term stay in space. Fluid samples taken from astronauts will help scientists understand these processes, possibly allowing the development of countermeasures.

The Expedition 16 and 17 crew members along with their South Korean guest took part in a crew news conference. The station residents answered questions from both the United States and Russia. American astronauts Peggy Whitson and Garrett Reisman later participated in an interview with U.S. journalists.

Wednesday, Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson will break Mike Foale’s record for cumulative time in space for a U.S. astronaut of 374 days in space. She will land Saturday with 377 days in space on two flights, 20th all-time. Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko will log 515 days in space on four flights when he lands, 9th all-time. They will have spent 192 days in space on this flight, 190 on the station.

Whitson performed five spacewalks during Expedition 16 for a total of six career spacewalks totaling 39 hours, 46 minutes, putting her 16th on the all-time list, more than any other woman.

Whitson and Malenchenko will return home with spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi. They will leave the station Saturday at 1:06 a.m. EDT in their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft and land in the steppes of Kazakhstan a few hours later.

Reisman will continue his stay onboard the orbiting laboratory with Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Whitson Sets U.S. Space Record; Handovers and Interviews for Crews


Image above: At top left and bottom are Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko
and Commander Peggy Whitson. Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, at top right, has joined
Expedition 17.
Credit: NASA

Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson broke Mike Foale’s record Wednesday for cumulative time in space for a U.S. astronaut of 374 days. She will land Saturday with 377 days in space on two flights, 20th all-time. Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko will have logged 515 days in space on four flights when he lands, ninth all-time. They will have spent 192 days in space on this flight, 190 on the station.

Whitson performed five spacewalks during Expedition 16 for a total of six career spacewalks totaling 39 hours, 46 minutes, putting her 16th on the all-time list, more than any other woman.

Whitson and Malenchenko have been stowing gear in their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft for the return home Saturday morning. The Expedition 16 crew members have also increased their exercise routines to condition their bodies for their return to Earth’s gravity after landing. Spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi will return home with them.

Familiarization activities continue as Malenchenko hands over responsibilities for the station’s Russian segment to Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko. Garrett Reisman carries over his responsibilities from Expedition 16 to Expedition 17 as flight engineer.

Whitson and Reisman answered questions from ABC News and CBS News.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Expedition 16's Whitson Hands Over Command of Station


Image above: Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson (far right) officially hands over command of the International Space Station to Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov (far left).
Credit: NASA TV

Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson officially handed over command of the International Space Station to Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov. Thursday’s ceremony took place inside the U.S. Harmony Node.

The station crews have shifted their sleep schedules in preparation for Saturday morning’s Soyuz TMA-11 undocking. Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko will return to Earth with South Korean spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi.

Whitson broke Michael Foale’s cumulative time-in-space record on Wednesday. She will have accumulated 377 days in space by the time she lands in Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, the station occupants continue their normal activities as they resize U.S. spacesuits, work on science experiments and stow gear for Expedition 16’s return home. Whitson and Malenchenko also are proceeding with their increased exercise routines to condition their bodies for their return to Earth’s gravity.

Source: NASA - Space Station

E16 Soyuz Begins Return to Earth with Deorbit Burn


Image above: A camera aboard the International Space Station captured this image of the
Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft shortly after undocking.
Credit: NASA TV
Expedition 16’s Soyuz TMA-11 successfully completed its 4.5-minute deorbit burn initiated at 3:40 a.m. EDT. The burn slowed the spacecraft to begin the descent that will take it through re-entry and to a landing in Kazakhstan.

E16 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko left the station after Whitson set a new record for cumulative time in space by an American – 377 days. With the crew members was Korean spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi, who launched to the station April 8 with the Expedition 17 crew.

That crew, Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko is beginning a six-month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory. With them is astronaut Garrett Reisman, who served with E16 during the last few weeks of its increment, and remains aboard as an E17 flight engineer for the early part of its stay.

The Soyuz is scheduled to land at about 4:30 a.m. on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Expedition 16 Crew Lands in Kazakhstan


Image above: A camera aboard the International Space Station captured this image of the
Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft shortly after undocking.
Credit: NASA TV

Commander Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko of the 16th International Space Station crew landed on the steppes of Kazakhstan around 4:30 a.m. EDT Saturday after 192 days in space.

All three people aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft were reported to be in good condition after their re-entry and landing.

The landing was approximately 295 miles from the expected landing site, delaying the recovery forces’ arrival to the spacecraft by approximately 45 minutes.

With Whitson and Malenchenko was spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi. She launched to the station April 8 with the Expedition 17 crew, Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko, under contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency.

Astronaut Garrett Reisman came to the station aboard Endeavour on its STS-123 mission, launched March 11. He served for the last few weeks as a member of Expedition 16. He remains aboard as a member of the Expedition 17 crew.

Expedition 16 crew members undocked their Soyuz spacecraft from the station at 1: 06 a.m. Saturday. The deorbit burn to slow the Soyuz and begin its descent toward the Earth took place at 3:40 a.m.

When they landed, Whitson and Malenchenko had spent 192 days in space on their Expedition 16 flight, 190 of them on the station.

Whitson, 48, returned from her second mission to the station. She served as a flight engineer on the Expedition 5 crew, launching June 5, 2002, and returning to Earth Dec. 7 after almost 185 days in space.

She landed Saturday with a total of 377 days in space, more than any other U.S. spacefarer. On April 16 she broke the previous mark of 374 days set by Mike Foale on his six flights.

She holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rice University in Houston. She began working for NASA as a research biochemist in 1989 and was selected as an astronaut in 1996.

Malenchenko, 46, a Russian Air Force colonel, is making his third long-duration spaceflight. He spent 126 days aboard the Russian space station Mir beginning July 1, 1994, and commanded Expedition 7, spending 185 days in space beginning April 26, 2006. He also was a member of the STS-106 crew of Atlantis on an almost-12-day mission to the station beginning Sept. 8, 2000.

He landed Saturday with a total of 515 days in space on his four flights. He has the ninth highest total of cumulative time in space of all humans.

Source: NASA - Space Station

Kudos to Expedition 16!

I don't think we'll see another expedition do what Peggy and Yuri's crew did. In fact, I have a feeling no other expedition will have the opportunity to do so much in so little time.

It's been a whirlwind 6 months, and a classic illustration of what the partners can do together...one for the record books!

When you remember what ISS looked like when Peggy and Yuri got there last October, and realize what's happened, it's an amazing testimony:

25 EVAs, 5 of them executed by Peggy Whitson.
The Harmony Node.
The P6 Solar Array repositioning and that amazing repair work by STS-120.
The S5 Truss Assembly and the CMG replacement.
The Columbus Laboratory and its associated externals.
The JLP.
Dextre.
The ATV.
And of course, 5 impeccable Space Shuttle missions.

An amazing set of accomplishments.

...I hope I didn't forget anything!



Now...I hope the Russians will be able to gather adequate data in order to eliminate this recurrent ballistic re-entry situation.
Ballistic re-entry is a nominal process, of course, but TMA is designed to execute lifting re-entry, and it's certainly not preferable to have to go ballistic in the case where long-term space flight crews are returning. An 8 to 10 g peak is not a nice thing for folks who've spent the past 6 months at 0g.

But everyone fared very well, although it did make things a bit tense for a while early this morning!

The press release is reproduced below:

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749
katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov

John Ira Petty
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
john.i.petty@nasa.govv


RELEASE: 08-105

Expedition 16 Soyuz Lands Safely in Kazakhstan

HOUSTON – NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the first female commander of the International Space Station, returned to Earth at approximately 4:30 a.m. EDT Saturday, ending a mission during which she conducted five spacewalks and set a new record in American spaceflight.

Whitson and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, members of the 16th crew to live and work aboard the station, safely landed their Soyuz spacecraft in the steppes of Kazakhstan. Spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi also returned to Earth aboard the Soyuz. The landing was approximately 295 miles from the expected landing site, delaying the recovery forces’ arrival to the spacecraft by approximately 45 minutes.

Whitson, 48, has accumulated more time in space than any U.S. astronaut in history. She and Malenchenko, who launched to the station on Oct. 10, 2007, spent 192 days in space. This was Whitson’s second flight to the station. She served almost 185 days as a flight engineer on the Expedition 5 crew, which launched June 5, 2002, and returned to Earth Dec. 7, 2002. Whitson has totaled 377 days in space during two missions. On April 16, she surpassed the 374-day record set by astronaut Mike Foale during his six flights.

Malenchenko, 46, a Russian Air Force colonel, completed his third long-duration spaceflight. He spent 126 days aboard the Russian space station Mir in 1994, and commanded Expedition 7, spending 185 days in space in 2006. He also was a member of the STS-106 crew of shuttle Atlantis on a 12-day mission to the station in 2000. He has accumulated 515 days in space during his four flights. That is the ninth highest total of cumulative time.

The Expedition 16 crew worked with experiments across a wide variety of fields, including human life sciences, physical sciences and Earth observation. Many of the experiments are designed to gather information about the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, which will help with planning future exploration missions to the moon and Mars.

The Expedition 16 crew members undocked their Soyuz spacecraft from the station at 1:06 a.m. The deorbit burn to slow the Soyuz and begin its descent toward the Earth began at 3:40 a.m.

Before undocking, Whitson and Malenchenko bid farewell to the new station crew, Expedition 17 Commander Sergei Volkov and Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko and Garrett Reisman. Volkov and Konenko launched to the station April 8. They were accompanied by Yi who flew under a commercial contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency. Reisman came to the station aboard shuttle Endeavour on the STS-123 mission, which launched March 11.

For still and video imagery to accompany this release, visit:

For more information about NASA's plans to return to the moon and go beyond, visit:

Source: NASA Press Release 08-105

Expedition 16 Lands Safely; New Crew Performs Reboost Test


Image above: Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson waves to a crowd of well wishers
from the top of the airplane steps as she arrives at Chkalovsky airport, Star City along with
Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and South Korean So-yeon Yi.
Whitson, Malechenko and Yi landed their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft on April 19, 2008 in
central Kazakhstan to complete 192 days in space for Whitson and Malenchenko and 11 days
in orbit for Yi.
Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
+ View high-res

The Expedition 16 crew members are in good spirits after they safely landed their Soyuz spacecraft Saturday in the steppes of Kazakhstan at approximately 4:30 a.m. EDT. Spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi also returned to Earth aboard the Soyuz. The landing was about 295 miles from the expected landing site, delaying the recovery forces' arrival to the spacecraft by approximately 45 minutes.

Now at Star City, Russia, Astronaut Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko launched to the International Space Station on Oct. 10, 2007, and spent 192 days in space.

On Monday, Expedition 17 crew members conducted a test of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle's reboost engines. Those engines can be used to lift the orbit of the station to a higher altitude while the cargo craft is docked to the orbiting complex. Another test will be conducted on Thursday, setting the station in the proper configuration for the arrival of space shuttle Discovery on the STS-124 mission in June.

Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman also conducted a ham radio session with patients of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Fla.

Source: NASA - Space Station