ISS Expedition 15 Mission Updates

Crew Swap Begins Aboard Space Station
12 October 2007 12:56 p.m. EDT

A nine-day crew swap is now under way aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after the successful docking of a Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft at 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT) today.

ISS Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are now working with their Expedition 15 counterparts to take control of the orbital laboratory.

Shukor will return with the Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Oleg Kotov, who are scheduled to land on Oct. 21.

"I feel very well," Shukor told flight controllers on Earth. "And I have lots of Russian and American friends up onboard with me here."

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking and hatch opening on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Astronauts Enter Space Station
12 October 2007 12:42 p.m. EDT

The two Expedition 16 astronauts and Malaysia's first spaceflyer have entered the International Space Station (ISS), with the outpost's three-man Expedition 15 greeting them with broad smiles and hearty hugs.

Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian spaceflyer Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor waved at ISS cameras. They docked at 10:20 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT) and opened hatches about two hours later.

"Everybody is smiling and happy, the fun is only about to begin," Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin said.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking and hatch opening on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Open Hatches Between ISS, Soyuz
12 October 2007 12:25 p.m. EDT

The six astronauts of the International Space Station's Expedition 15 and Expedition 16 crews are sharing their orbital hellos after opening hatches between their two spacecraft at 12:22 p.m. EDT (1622 GMT) today.

"Well hello!" Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin said. "Welcome onboard!"

Yurchikhin and Expedition 15 flight engineer Oleg Kotov and Clayton Anderson welcomed Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor aboard the ISS. A Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft ferried the new crew to the station at 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT).

Whitson and Malenchenko will relieve Yurchikhin and Kotov aboard the ISS while Anderson stays on for the first stage of Expedition 16. The Expedition 15 crew and Shukor will land on Oct. 21.

A video greeting between the joint Expedition 15/Expedition 16 crew and Russian Mission Control will begin shortly.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking and hatch opening on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Astronauts Set to Enter Space Station
12 October 2007 11:43 a.m. EDT

The three astronauts inside the recently docked Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft are preparing to enter the International Space Station (ISS) after today's 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT) docking.

The final leak checks between the two spacecraft are underway as the ISS Expedition 15 crew prepares to open the internal hatches connecting their vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft.

Aboard the Soyuz, Expeditoin 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, are preparing to open their own connecting hatch to enter the ISS.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Leak Checks Underway Between Soyuz, ISS
12 October 2007 11:14 a.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the recently docked Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft are conducting leak checks as they prepare to open the hatches between their two vehicles.

The Soyuz, with Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor aboard, arrived at the ISS at 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT). Hatches between the two vehicles are slated to be opened between 11:50 a.m. EDT and 12:20 p.m. EDT (1550-1620 GMT).

A press conference is underway at Russia's ISS Mission Control.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Astronauts Dock at Space Station
12 October 2007 10:54 a.m. EDT

The Russian-built Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft carrying Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), with docking occurring on time at about 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT).

"Yuri, congratulations," Russian flight controllers told Malenchenko, who commanded the Soyuz's flight.

The two spacecraft were flying 220 miles (354 kilometers) above western Mongolia at the time of docking.

A series of hooks and latches will secure the two spacecraft to one another. After conducting leak checks, the two spacecraft crews are expected to open the hatches separating their two vehicles at about 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT), NASA said.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Spacecraft Prepares for ISS Arrival
12 October 2007 10:43 a.m. EDT

The Russian-built Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft ferrying Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor to the International Space Station (ISS) is poised to dock at the orbital laboratory.

Docking is set for 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT), with the Soyuz easily discernable in video recorded by cameras outside the ISS.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Spacecraft Primed for ISS Fly Around
12 October 2007 10:33 a.m. EDT

Soyuz TMA-11 commander Yuri Malenchenko has guided his ship to within one kilometer of the International Space Station (ISS) and is preparing to fly the spacecraft around the orbital outpost.

Malenchenko, Expedition 16 commaner Peggy Whitson and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are on track for today's planned 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) docking.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Astronauts on Track for ISS Docking
12 October 2007 10:15 a.m. EDT

Preparations for today's Soyuz TMA-11 docking at the International Space Station (ISS) are going smoothly, with the Russian spacecraft nearing within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of the orbital laboratory, NASA commentator Rob Navias said.?

Aboard the Russian-built Soyuz, Expedition 16 flight engineer and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko is commanding the vehicle's flight toward a planned 10:52 a.m. (1452 GMT) docking. ISS Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are accompanying Malenchenko to the ISS.

Hatches between the Soyuz and ISS are expected to be opened as early as 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT).

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Spacecraft Due at Space Station Today
12 October 2007 10:00 a.m. EDT

A Russian-built Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft is closing in on the International Space Station (ISS) to make a 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) docking later today.

Riding aboard the Soyuz are ISS Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysia's first astronaut Sheik Muszaphar Shukor. The three spaceflyers are completing a two-day trek to the ISS that began with a flawless Wednesday launch.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 docking on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Rocket Reaches Orbit with Space Station Crew
10 October 2007 9:36 a.m. EDT

The Russian Soyuz rocket hauling the new Expedition 16 crew and a Malaysian astronaut toward the International Space Station (ISS) has successfully reached orbit after a flawless evening launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

Now in orbit aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft are Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.

The astronauts launched on time at 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT), though it was 12 minutes after sunset at their Central Asian spaceport.

Whitson and Malenchenko will replace Expedition 15 cosmonauts Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov.

A wrap up of today's Expedition 16 launch will be posted to SPACE.com's homepage shortly.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Rocket Hauls Astronauts Toward Orbit
10 October 2007 9:30 a.m. EDT

The second stage of the Russian Soyuz rocket hauling the new Expedition 16 crew and a Malaysian astronaut toward the International Space Station (ISS) has separated, with the third stage igniting. Four minutes of powered flight remain.

A short time ago the rocket shed its first stage boosters and escape tower. Inside the Soyuz TMA-11 rocket are Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer and Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

LIFTOFF! Soyuz Rocket Launches Astronauts Spaceward
10 October 2007 9:23 a.m. EDT

The next crew of the International Space Station (ISS) and Malaysia's first astronaut are rocketing toward space after the on-time 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT) liftoff of their Soyuz rocket.

Aboard the rocket's Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft are: Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, a NASA astronaut and the first female commander of the ISS; veteran cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, an Expedition 16 flight engineer representing the Federal Space Agency; Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, an orthopedic surgeon flying under a commercial agreement between Russian and his home nation.

It should take about nine minutes for the spaceflyers to reach orbit.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Launch Time Nears for ISS-Bound Astronauts
10 October 2007 9:15 a.m. EDT

Less than 10 minutes remains now before the planned 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT) launch of a Russian-built Soyuz rocket carrying the Expedition 16 crew and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor toward the International Space Station (ISS).

Aboard their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft, Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko are strapped in alongside Shukor for the planned launch. Malenchenko will command the Soyuz flight to the ISS.

Liftoff is slated to occur about 12 minutes after sunset Local Time. Whitson is the first female commander of the ISS.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Launch Service Structure Retracts from Soyuz Rocket
10 October 2007 8:55 a.m. EDT

The two fold-down halves of the Launch Service Structure have pulled away from the Soyuz rocket set to loft the Expedition 16 crew and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor into space today.

The countdown is on track for a 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT) launch today, though it will be 7:22 p.m. Local Time at the Soyuz rocket's Baikonur Cosmodrome launch site in Kazakhstan.

Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Shukor are strapped into their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Strapped in to Soyuz for Launch
10 October 2007 8:43 a.m. EDT

Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are strapped into their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft for today's planned 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT) launch to the International Space Station (ISS).

Malenchenko, as Soyuz commander, is seated in the center of the three-person spacecraft. Whitson sits in the left seat as Soyuz flight engineer with Shukor in the right seat. Malenchenko has chosen the Russian word for "Gemstone" as his Soyuz call sign.

It will be 7:22 p.m. Local Time, just before sunset, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in Central Asia at the time of today's planned liftoff.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Launch Countdown Continues for ISS Crew
10 October 2007 8:24 a.m. EDT

With less than an hour remaining before their planned 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT) launch into space, Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are preparing for liftoff.

NASA video of their prelaunch showed the spaceflyers arrive at their launch pad at the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch pad is the same site that where cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin launched on April 12, 1961 to become the first human in space.

Shukor and the Expedition 16 crew are now aboard their Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft as they prepare for today's launch.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronaut Trio All Smiles Before Launch
10 October 2007 7:53 a.m. EDT

NASA video of the prelaunch activities for Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor show the spaceflyers to be all smiles as they prepare for a 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT) launch into orbit.

The astronauts have donned their blue and white Russian Sokol spacesuits that will protect them during the nine-minute ascent to orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

New Astronaut Crew Prepares for Soyuz Launch
10 October 2007 7:35 a.m. EDT

Space station commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are counting down to their planned launch into space today.

NASA is broadcasting recorded video of the astronauts' prelaunch activities on NASA TV as the astronaut trio prepare to launch toward the International Space Station (ISS) at about 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT).

Whitson, the first female commander of the ISS, and Malenchenko will relieve two Expedition 15 cosmonauts as they begin their own Expedition 16 mission. Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, flight engineer Oleg Kotov and Shukor will return home on Oct. 21.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

New Astronaut Crew to Launch Toward ISS
10 October 2007 7:08 a.m. EDT

Two veteran spaceflyers and Malaysia's first astronaut are poised to launch toward the International Space Station (ISS) today.

ISS Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysian astronaut Shiekh Muszaphar Shukor are slated to ride their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft into orbit at 9:21 a.m. EDT (1321 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The launch will begin a 12-day crew swap aboard the ISS, with Whitson and Malenchenko replacing Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov. Shukor is due to return to Earth with the Expedition 15 crew on Oct. 21.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Expedition 16 launch on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Soyuz Spacecraft Redocks at Space Station
25 September 2007 3:55 p.m. EDT

A Russian-built Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) after short Thursday trip to move the vehicle to a new berth.

Commanded by Expedition 15 flight engineer Oleg Kotov, the Soyuz spacecraft docked at the aft end of the station's Zvezda module at 3:47 p.m. EDT (1947 GMT) to end a 20-minute spaceflight.

"Nice work," NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, an Expedition 15 flight engineer, told Kotov after their returned to the ISS.

The Soyuz relocation clears an Earth-facing docking port on the station's Zarya control module for the Oct. 12 arrival of the new Expedition 16 crew. A series of hooks and latches will draw the two spacecraft together, with leak checks to follow in order to ensure they are safely connected.

A wrap up of today's Soyuz flight will be posted to SPACE.com's homepage.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Soyuz relocation on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts on Final Approach to Space Station
25 September 2007 3:48 p.m. EDT

The three astronauts of Expedition 15 crew are on their final approach to redock their Soyuz spacecraft at the International Space Station.

Expedition 15 flight engineer Oleg Kotov is commanding Soyuz spaceflight, which will redock at the ISS as the station flies in orbital night.

Kotov, Expedition commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Clayton Anderson undocked from the station at 3:22 p.m. EDT (1922 GMT) to move the Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft to a new docking port.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Soyuz relocation on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Fly Soyuz Around Space Station
25 September 2007 3:36 p.m. EDT

Flight controllers in Russia's International Space Station Mission Control have given the Expedition 15 crew the go ahead to fly around the orbital laboratory in their Soyuz spacecraft.

The Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft undocked from an Earth-facing port on the station's Zarya control module at 3:27 p.m. (1927 GMT) as vehicles flew 219 miles (352 meters) above the southeastern Pacific Ocean.

Expedition 15 flight engineer Oleg Kotov is now guiding the Soyuz along a graceful to align it with an aft-facing docking port on the station's Russian-built Zvezda control module.

ISS commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Clayton Anderson are also aboard the Soyuz with Kotov. They are scheduled to redock at the Zvezda port at 3:45 p.m. EDT (1945 GMT).

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Soyuz relocation on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Space Station Crew Undocks from Orbital Laboratory
25 September 2007 3:27 p.m. EDT

A Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft carrying three Expedition 15 astronauts has undocked from the International Space Station to begin today's short spaceflight outside the orbital laboratory.

Commands for the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft to cast off from its Earth-facing berth on the station's Zarya module were sent at 3:17 p.m. EDT (1917 GMT). The two spacecraft officially separated from each other at about 3:20 p.m. EDT (1920 GMT).

"Separation is nominal," said Expedition 15 flight engineer Oleg Kotov, serving as Soyuz commander, after undocking.

Kotov, Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Clayton Anderson are inside Soyuz TMA-10, clad in Russian Sokol spacesuits, for today's brief spaceflight. The move clears the Zarya berth for the Oct. 12 arrival of a Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft carrying the station's new Expedition 16 crew.

Kotov will keep the Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft about 30 meters away from the space station as he guides it to a docking port located on the aft end of the station's Zvezda service module.

NASA is providing live coverage of today's Soyuz relocation on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

-- Tariq Malik

Space Station Crew Set for Soyuz Move
25');