Tag: Soyuz
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Soyuz TMA-10M returns trio to Earth
The three crewmembers of Soyuz TMA-10M have safely returned to Earth, following their landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of Dzhezkazgan. Expedition 38 Commander Oleg Kotov, along with Flight Engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy and Michael Hopkins, concluded their mission in space, with a parachute assisted touchdown in frigid conditions. Soyuz TMA-10M: Due to the wintry conditions…
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Russia conducts successful debut launch of Soyuz-2-1v
The new Soyuz-2-1v rocket has finally made its debut launch on Saturday. The secretive launch of the new Soyuz – that does not sport any of the boosters familiar to the other members of the Soyuz family – successfully lofted the Aist satellite and two SKRL-756 calibration spheres from launch pad 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, with…
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Soyuz ST-B successfully launches Gaia space observatory
An Arianespace Soyuz ST-B rocket successfully launched the impressive Gaia space observatory from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana on Thursday. The launch – occurring on schedule at 9:12 am UTC – marks the beginning of an ambitious project to map a billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy. The Spacecraft: The Gaia spacecraft is…
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Soyuz TMA-11M docks increasing ISS to nine person crew
The three person crew of Soyuz TMA-11M have arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, just six hours and 14 minutes after being launched by their Soyuz FG rocket. Using the fast track rendezvous, the arrival has temporarily increased the orbital outpost’s crew compliment to nine. Soyuz TMA-11M: Veteran Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin…
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Soyuz TMA-10M docks with the ISS
Another three crewmembers were sent on their way to the International Space Station (ISS), following their launch on Soyuz TMA-10M from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Wednesday. NASA’s Michael Hopkins, along with Russia’s Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazanskiy took just under six hours to arrive at the Station, as the fast rendezvous technique was once again…
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Soyuz TMA-08M returns Expedition 36 back to Earth
The Russian Soyuz TMA-08M undocked from the International Space Station, ahead of successfully returning its three person crew safely to the steppe of Kazakhstan early on Wednesday morning. The undocking marked the end of an eventful Expedition 36 that included a dramatic premature end to one of the spacewalks during the period. Soyuz TMA-08M Return:…
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Root cause breakthrough during Luca’s leaky EMU investigation
The International Space Station (ISS) crew have managed to recreate the substantial water leak in Luca Parmitano’s faulty spacesuit, the cause of the premature end to EVA-23 last month. The crew are expected to removed and replace faulty components from the suit, for return to Earth on board the soon-to-depart Soyuz TMA-08M (34S). EMU…
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The amazing space adventures of Michael Foale
British-born astronaut Michael Foale has retired from NASA following an amazing career that saw him fly on six Space Shuttle missions, a Soyuz and two Space Stations. Moving to a career in the commercial section, Foale’s space flight legacy includes 374 days in space, a record for an American citizen. Famous Foale: Born in…
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Progress M-20M arrives at ISS with spacesuit repair tools
Russia’s Progress M-20M spacecraft, known in NASA’s numbering scheme as Progress 52 (52P), launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8:45 PM GMT on Saturday. The spacecraft then dock to the ISS just six hours later, delivering some vital spacesuit repair tools to the station crew. Progress M-20M: Following liftoff from the Baikonur…
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Soyuz ST-B launches with four O3b satellites
An Arianespace Soyuz ST-B rocket successfully launched four O3B satellites from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana on Tuesday. The launch – the second Soyuz to lift-off in close succession – was scheduled for 18:54 UTC. However, due to a red hold, the teams opted for a launch 33 minutes later. Soyuz ST-B Launch: The…