Soyuz launch of Expedition 16

[JonClarke]

<i>Must be a prestige thing.</i><br /><br />It's a solidarity with the cosmonauts thing.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

All being well Peggy will become the first woman and only the 2nd US astronaut to clock up a year in space.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[shhaz]

Photo still says Peggy Whitson is the "guy" in the center of the three astronauts on the Soyuz mission.

 

[bobblebob]

Live footage of docking starting in 10 mins

 

[deapfreeze]

I am all set for docking. Got my coffee . <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>William ( deapfreeze ) Hooper</em></font></p><p><font size="1">http://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Me too. Caught the part where the soyuz 11 was coming into veiw of the ISS and the Russian tech said to the Houston tech that it looks like "Darth Vader's ship". LOL! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

good camera view now from the soyuz. Its maeuvering. <br /><br />Great coverage.<br /><br />They ISS takes up more than the soyuz camera frame, and the ISS camera has to zoom onto the soyuz. Size is perceived between the two cameras...<br /><br />final approach. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Last time they lost live footage seconds before docking

 

[holmec]

Flood lights on ISS finally on. <br /><br />Doh! Correction it was flood lights on Soyuz....Yuri turned them on. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Sweet! CAPTURE! all the way in. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Didnt seem the smoothest of captures (or maybe thats how they all are), but cool video

 

[holmec]

Yeah not as smooth as Jack Swigert (aka Kevin Beacon) explaining docking to a gal at the begining of Apollo 13 movie. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[deapfreeze]

It was a good docking. The video a little bit choppy at times but otherwise it was good. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>William ( deapfreeze ) Hooper</em></font></p><p><font size="1">http://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[thereiwas]

What is that big gouge and crack on the side of the big white knob in the center of the hatch?

 

[thereiwas]

It appears the gouge and crack are on the ISS side of the hatch between ISS and the vestibule. (ISS astronauts floating into view) So whatever caused it was something happening inside ISS, not something on the Soyuz. I wonder how long that has been there.

 

[thereiwas]

Never mind. Now that they have folded the hatch over I can see it is a notch for some sort of connector.

 

[erioladastra]

"Didnt seem the smoothest of captures (or maybe thats how they all are), but cool video "<br /><br />Not sure what you saw but it was a perfectly nominal docking.

 

[holmec]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Not sure what you saw but it was a perfectly nominal docking.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />It was a nice docking. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[ashish27]

I kinda envy the Malayasian guy. He is so young.

 

[holmec]

Actually I'm glad that he's on the mission. I think its good PR with the Islamic world. I hope their people start to see space in a positive light and not feel outsiders to the adventure. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[thereiwas]

Yesterday I looked at the NASA TV online schedule (which is very difficult to find) and they are covering it both live and with a "Video File" replay. Deorbit burn at 5:47 EDT, Landing 6:37 EDT, Replay at 9:30 EDT. This is the only place on NASA's web site I could find the actual times. Everywhere else it just says October 21.

 

[thinice]

Ballistic descent is just reported, but not confirmed yet.

 

[thereiwas]

TMA-1 at the end of Expedition 6 also did a ballistic re-entry. I wonder if the cause will turn out to be the same. In TMA-1 the guidance computer switched to ballistic mode when it got a possibly incorrect signal from the yaw sensor.<br /><br />Despite announcements to the contrary, NASA TV is <i>not</i> replaying the landing coverage, the bums.

 

[bobblebob]

How much could you see of the landing? Gutted that i missed it, but the last one i watched you saw very little anyway

 

[thinice]

Well, I would say that after the re-entry burn one could see nothing but two mission control rooms.