Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S), Launched April 2, 2010

[Zipi]

Launch time: 04:04 GMT (12:04 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew.

Crew:

Caldwell Dyson, Skvortsov and Korniyenko

Soyuz TMA-18 Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-18

Russian Astronaut Pages: http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... naut.ru%2F
(without Google translation: http://www.astronaut.ru/)

Russian Spacecraft Tracking Page: http://www.mcc.rsa.ru/model.htm

Soyuz TMA-18: Autonomous Tests Completed Successfully (27.02.2010)

Autonomous tests of the Soyuz TMA-18 crew vehicle systems were successfully completed at Baikonur. Space industry commenced integrated tests of the vehicle to verify interaction between the systems.
Filling station, site 31, is being prepared for further tanking of the Soyuz propulsion system by propellant components ad pressurized gases.
Soyuz-FG with Soyuz TMA-18 atop is planned for launch on April 2. The vehicle is to deliver 3 crew to the International Space Station.

Quoted from: http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id= ... 14&lang=en

Live coverage from NasaTV:

Web Browser Link: (for people who don't appreciate free floating video window)
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Direct stream links: (you may have to copy&paste these to your media player)
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1369080 (Quality: 150k)
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1368162 (Quality: 300k)
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1368570 (Quality: 500k)
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1368163 (Quality: 1200k)

Live Coverage from TV Tsenki: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/livechoose.php

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Technology links with lots of data and pictures:

Wikipedia:
Spacecraft:
Soyuz (spacecraft)

( ISS-22 Image Gallery )

Launch vehicle:
Soyuz-FG


from http://www.russianspaceweb.com
Spacecraft:
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz.html

Launch vehicle
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz_lv.html

member of R7 family :
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/r7.html

from http://www.astronautix.com :
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/soyuz.htm

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Two Photo Reports from Energia: (more photos in actual articles)

February 9, 2010. S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Korolev, Moscow region

The planned training sessions were held at S.P. Korolev Rocket & Space Corporation Energia under the training program of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition crews.

The Corporation specialists acquainted the Russian test cosmonauts A. Skvortsov and M. Kornienko with the following procedures: the onboard computer system mathematical software replacement, geophysical studies making (space experiment Uragan) and the Earth remote sensing (space experiment Seiner).

Besides the training sessions were held on the ISTOCHNIK-M equipment and amateur radio communication, onboard simulators, photo and video equipment with which these cosmonauts will have to work on the ISS Russian Segment.

Quoted from: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_02-09.html

February 27, 2010, S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, Korolev, Moscow region

The training sessions under the training program for the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition crews were held at Rocket & Space Corporation Energia.

The corporation specialists acquainted U.S. astronauts T. Caldwell and S. Kelly with multifunctional indicator-instrument of the Russian Research Modules.

Besides, they passed training in handling the onboard photo- and video equipment, as well as they studied procedures and tools to provide the equipment maintenance and repair both inside and outside the ISS Russian Segment.

Additionally T. Caldwell took one lession in amateur radio communication sessions from board the ISS.

Quoted from: http://www.energia.ru/en/news/news-2010 ... 02-27.html

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Soyuz Rocket Family Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_(rocket_family)
Soyuz-FG Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz-FG
Astronautix Soyuz Page: http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/soyuz.htm
Samara Space Centre Soyuz-FG Page: http://www.samspace.ru/ENG/RN/souz_fg.htm
Soyuz-FG Cutout Picture: http://www.samspace.ru/images/s-fg.jpg
SuzyMcHale's Soyuz Page: http://suzymchale.com/ruspace/rocksoyuz.html
TsSKB-Progress Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TsSKB-Progress (Soyuz launch vehicle manufacturer)

Soyuz launch vehicle belongs to R7 rocket family.

Soyuz-FG First Stage:

One RD-108 engine burning LOX/RP1.

NPO Energomarsh RD-107 & RD-108 Page: http://www.npoenergomash.ru/eng/engines/rd107/
Astronautix RD-108 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd108.htm

Soyuz-FG Boosters: (Stage 0)

Four boosters each having one RD-107A engine burning LOX/RP1.

NPO Energomarsh RD-107 & RD-108 Page: http://www.npoenergomash.ru/eng/engines/rd107/
Astronautix RD-107 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd107.htm

Soyuz-FG Second Stage:

One RD-0110 engine burning LOX/RP1.

Khrunichev RD-0110 Page: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=101&lang=en

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Another busy day :mrgreen:

Pretty pictures :
from http://www.samspace.ru

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

From Roscosmos :
“Soyuz TMA-18” has Passed Containment Tests

:: 12.03.2010

First 2010 manned flight preparations continue at Baikonur.

Since the beginnining of this week “Soyuz TMA-18” spaceship was passing containment tests at th vacuum chamber facility.

Morning March 11th the tests were finished and spaceship was moved to stand to continue the tests.

At the same time at Baikonur 112th Area TsSKB Progress and Yuzhniy Space Center crews have begun the assembly of “Soyuz-U” launch vehicle for “Progress” cargo spaceship launch. Second stage assembly is on the way, crews are preparing to attach first stage side blocks to the central block. After the final “Soyuz-U” assembly technical crews will begin “Soyuz-FG” launch vehicle for "Soyuz TMA-18” spaceship launch.

“Soyuz-U” assembly is realized to free additional space for future “Soyuz-FG” assembly.

April 2nd 2010 “Soyuz-FG” launch vehicle will orbit “Soyuz TMA-18” spaceship with international crew: Alexander Skvortsov (Russia), Mikhail Kornienko (Russia) , Tracy Caldwell Dyson (USA)

Yuzhniy SC Press service

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Two “Soyuz” Rockets Delivered on Baikonur 11.03.2010

Two “Soyuz” launcher vehicles delivered on Baikonur. One of them, “Soyuz-FG” will be used for the “Soyuz TMA-19” spaceship launch, June 16th . The second one – “Soyuz-U” must carry “Progress M-06M” cargo spaceship and will be launched June 28th.

After customs procedures, train with rockets was moved to Area 112 of Baikonur. At this moment, there are six “Soyuz” launchers on Baikonur: three “Soyuz-FG” rockets, two “Soyuz-U” and one “Soyuz-2”.

Increasing number of “Soyuz” launches is caused by ISS intensive exploitation – to meet manned flight programme requirements, ten “Soyuz-FG” and “Soyuz-U” rockets must be launched from Baikonur every year.

“Soyuz” launcher vehicles are manufactured by “TsSKB-Progress” at Samara.

Quoted from: http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8843&lang=en

“Soyuz TMA-18” has Passed Containment Tests 12.03.2010

First 2010 manned flight preparations continue at Baikonur. Since the beginnining of this week “Soyuz TMA-18” spaceship was passing containment tests at th vacuum chamber facility. Morning March 11th the tests were finished and spaceship was moved to stand to continue the tests.

At the same time at Baikonur 112th Area TsSKB Progress and Yuzhniy Space Center crews have begun the assembly of “Soyuz-U” launch vehicle for “Progress” cargo spaceship launch. Second stage assembly is on the way, crews are preparing to attach first stage side blocks to the central block. After the final “Soyuz-U” assembly technical crews will begin “Soyuz-FG” launch vehicle for "Soyuz TMA-18” spaceship launch.

“Soyuz-U” assembly is realized to free additional space for future “Soyuz-FG” assembly.

April 2nd 2010 “Soyuz-FG” launch vehicle will orbit “Soyuz TMA-18” spaceship with international crew: Alexander Skvortsov (Russia), Mikhail Kornienko (Russia) , Tracy Caldwell Dyson (USA)

Quoted from: http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8845&lang=en

Roscosmos Soyuz-TMA18 Crew Photo Report:
http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... l=ru&tl=en
(without Google translation: http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9624&lang=ru)

Roscosmos Soyuz-TMA18 Crew Photo Report #2:
http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... 6lang%3Dru
(without Google translation: http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9639&lang=ru)

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

It would be very nice, if they had thumbs for photos on their page, so here it comes :

from http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9624&lang=ru :

from http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=9639&lang=ru

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

New Roscosmos Photoreports

Crew Arrives to Baikonur: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-21.html

Primary & backup crew final training: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-22.html

Launch site preparations continue: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-24.html

More launch site preparations: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-25.html

Last Soyuz inspections before payload shroud: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-27.html

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Ballistic data in Russian: http://www.mcc.rsa.ru/sojuztma18/start.htm
Google Translation of ballistic data: http://www.sipponen.com/userdata/Soyuz_ ... c_Data.pdf
(I had to create a PDF for Google Translated content, since on-line translated content with MCC pages is pretty much unreadable)

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jWUUAZCe8[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

SiberianTiger has published his excellent info package: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=15018

Soyuz pad rollout photoreport: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-31.html

Photoreport of bolting Soyuz stages together: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-30.html

Technical management meeting photoreport: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss23/photo_03-30_2.html

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Thanks Zipi, awesome posts

WoW, Siberian Tiger http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=15018

Very good job with ballistic data translation too, rather impressive
http://www.sipponen.com/userdata/Soyuz_ ... c_Data.pdf

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Thanks Zipi, awesome posts

Very good job with ballistic data translation too, rather impressive
http://www.sipponen.com/userdata/Soyuz_ ... c_Data.pdf

Thanks EarthlingX, SiberianTiger has the same ballistic data but translated by himself instead of Google Translation. Needless to say that his version is better, but it was not available at the time I did this PDF.

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Payload fairing installation:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yuSXUWUFIM[/youtube]

Baikonur media day:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QakG3roAM0[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd-BukUph9Q[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

This one is almost like a full documentary about the mission, with a lots of material, which i have not seen before, for example, Caldwell singing in Russian, lol, very nice and emotional - she has open options in the entertainment sector, no doubt about it

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Rollout:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T7PTnIg2dU[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

They are in the orbit : http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp23/status.html

by By Justin Ray

0420 GMT (12:20 a.m. EDT)
To recap, it was succesful flight by the Soyuz vehicle today beginning with launch at 0404 GMT. The spacecraft reached orbit as planned 9 minutes later.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBn-aSBrs2Q[/youtube]

Khm ... 'watch that ducky' .. ? Sounds serious .. oh, it's a rabbit, no worries then ... :roll:

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

NasaTV Official Youtube Video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oboXn_Pi08[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Nice and smooth, lovely

It is a ducky, not a rabbit :

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

SDC : New Crew Arrives at Space Station on Russian Spacecraft

Posted: 04 April 2010
01:50 am ET

This story was updated at 3:56 a.m. ET.

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Easter Sunday, boosting the orbiting lab's population up to six people just one day ahead of NASA's planned launch of the shuttle Discovery toward the outpost.

The Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft docked at a rooftop parking spot on station at 1:25 a.m. EDT (0525 GMT), delivering NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Russian spaceflyers Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Kornienko to the station after a two-day spaceflight.

The International Space Station's full Expedition 23 crew speaks with family members and official representatives from Russian and the U.S. on the ground after a Soyuz docked with three new crewmembers on April 4, 2010. Credit: NASA TV

Nice launch photo

A Russian-built Soyuz TMA-18 rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, April 2, 2010 carrying three Expedition 23 crew members to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Soyuz TMA-18 launch in 1080p HD format:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4S3xp_j0uQ[/youtube]

 

[Zipi]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Docking:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf-M4wxm2aQ[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: April 2, Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S)

Business as usual

HD launch is very nice too.