Soyuz TMA-12/Expedition 17 Launch

[SpaceKiwi]

<p>All is proceeding well at Baikonur.&nbsp; Launch to occur in about 15 minutes from this post.&nbsp; Live coverage now on NASA TV.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>SK&nbsp; <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/8/b54cd77b-88d0-494d-9856-950dec1ccd90.Medium.gif" alt="" /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[Zipi]

<p>Energia is also providing live broadcast of the launch:</p><p>http://www.energia.ru:8080/ramgen/broadcast/lagoon/encoder/live.rm</p><p>However seems that they don't have too much of bandwidth to broadcast...</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Everything ok for the launch. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Engine chambers are being purged from nitrogen <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

<p>Booster tanks are being pressurized</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Everything ok. I will switch to a full screen view on Nasa TV <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Souyz has cleared the tower. Everything nominal. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

First stage has been separated, everything still nominal. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Confirmed. About 4min powered flight remaining. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Third stage separation confirmed. All parameters nominal. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Solar arrays and navigational antennas has been deployed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

<p>Great launch!&nbsp; Two* second generation Cosmonauts, and the youngest woman to fly in space are now in orbit.</p><p>*&nbsp; The head of Roskosmos indicated after launch that Kononenko is also the son of a Cosmonaut, but I've been unable to verify this?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>SK&nbsp; <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/13/22a74000-5ed4-4986-9dba-e3ee0b26c33c.Medium.gif" alt="" /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[job1207]

<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmzIKDK6zVs</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>You really have to watch this video of Soyeon. It was shot while she was one of 300 under consideration as a Korean Astronaut.&nbsp; It will DEFINITELY liven up your day.&nbsp;</p><p>Oh yes, the introduction is nothing like the video. Just watch through the introduction, you will truly enjoy it.&nbsp; </p>

 

[Zipi]

<p>Here is a link to the SDC's article of the launch:<br />http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080408-exp17-launch.html</p><p>And for job1207, here is So-yeon's second interview:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cd72QUe9Ow&feature=related</p><p><strong>From Missions & Updates:</strong> http://www.space.com/ISS/<br />You can read that the second of three orbital adjustment burns has been completed successfully.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

The docking of Souyuz TMA-12 will occur soon with Pirs docking compartment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Two orbits with leak checks and then the hatch opening... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Both crews are now able to meet each other because the hatch between Pirs and Souyz has been opened. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Huntster]

<p>Just as soon as the TMA-12 hatch opens and the crew enters ISS, they begin a short VIP PAO event. Good for morale, I suppose. First to enter the station was Sergei Volkov, followed by Yi So-yeon and Oleg Kononenko.&nbsp; For the PAO event, Miss Yi spoke to Korean officials first, followed by Russian comments to Volkov and Kononenko.</p><p>Immediately after wrapping up the PAO event, the new arrivals once again entered TMA-12 to begin shutdown procedures. </p><p>As for Kononenko also being a second generation Cosmonaut, I've not heard this anywhere, nor has it been mentioned by commentators on NASA TV or during the crew video profiles, whereas Volkov's status has been particularly highlighted. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Zipi]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Just as soon as the TMA-12 hatch opens and the crew enters ISS, they begin a short VIP PAO event. Good for morale, I suppose. First to enter the station was Sergei Volkov, followed by Yi So-yeon and Oleg Kononenko.&nbsp; For the PAO event, Miss Yi spoke to Korean officials first, followed by Russian comments to Volkov and Kononenko.Immediately after wrapping up the PAO event, the new arrivals once again entered TMA-12 to begin shutdown procedures. As for Kononenko also being a second generation Cosmonaut, I've not heard this anywhere, nor has it been mentioned by commentators on NASA TV or during the crew video profiles, whereas Volkov's status has been particularly highlighted. <br />Posted by Huntster</DIV><br /><br />I heard Nasa TV commentator to mention that Volkov is a second generation space flyer when they opened the hatch. At the VIP PAO event those Russian made headsets which astronauts were using looked pretty hilarius. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />&nbsp;Also their ground room and microphone etc. equipment and arrangements&nbsp;were pretty Russian looking. Still nice to see that they stick with their habits and ways to do the things, because it gives some perspective that things can be done with different ways. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>