ISS Expedition 16 Mission Updates: Part 3
Soyuz Commader
?Feeling Fine? After Landing
19 April 2008 5:18 a.m. EDT
Russian Mission Control has radioed
the International Space Station the good news: The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft
returning three astronauts to Earth has been found and the crew is in good
health.
?They are feeling fine and they are
short of the landing site,? Mission Control said.
Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko
used a satellite phone to contact recovery forces, which have already spotted
the capsule?s landing site.
Returning to Earth with Malenchenko
were NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and South Korean astronaut So-yeon Yi, all of
whom are feeling fine, Malenchenko told recovery crews by phone.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Soyuz Spacecraft Landed Short
19 April 2008 5:10 a.m. EDT
The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft returning
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and two crewmates to Earth appears to have landed
well short of its targeted landing area, though its landing beacon has been
detected by recovery forces, NASA commentator John Ira Petty said.
The spacecraft now appears to
actually have landed short of its target zone. There is some discussion as to
whether the vehicle when into a ballistic reentry, a steeper than normal
descent that can subject the crew to higher gravitational forces.
?They are 475 kilometers short and
to the west of their landing site,? Russian Mission Control told the
International Space Station crew.
Two recovery helicopters are en
route to the Soyuz spacecraft.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Soyuz Spacecraft Overshoots Landing
Site
19 April 2008 4:46 a.m. EDT
Flight controllers at Russia?s Mission Control in Korolev, outside Moscow, are reporting that the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft ferrying astronauts home from the International Space Station has slightly overshot its landing site.
They are awaiting a firm communications link with the spacecraft?s crew: NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and South Korean spaceflyer So-yeon Yi.
?There was no [communication] with them and nobody saw them,? Russian Mission Control radioed space station Expedition 17 commander Sergei Volkov, adding that the Soyuz appeared to overshoot its landing zone slightly.
The crew was due to land at about 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT, with all procedures going according to plan aside from the overshot, NASA officials said.
Whitson and Malenchenko are returning to Earth after 192 straight days in space. Yi, who launched April 8 with the Expedition 17 crew, is returning after about 10 days in space.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Soyuz Spacecraft Jettisons Modules
for Landing
19 April 2008 4:16 a.m. EDT
The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft carrying
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and South
Korean spaceflyer So-yeon Yi has successfully jettisoned its now-unneeded
orbital and service modules, leaving its the crew-carrying return module on
track for today?s planned 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT) landing.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Soyuz Engine Burn a Success,
Astronauts Headed Home
19 April 2008 3:56 a.m. EDT
After a flawless engine burn by
their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut
Yuri Malenchenko and South Korean spaceflyer So-yeon Yi are on their way home.
The engine burn began on time at 3:40
a.m. EDT (0740 GMT) and lasted about five minutes, NASA commentator John Ira
Petty said.
Whitson and her crew are due to land
at 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT) on the central Asian steppes of Kazakhstan, where a
team of helicopters with recovery specialists will greet them after they touch
down.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Soyuz Spacecraft Fires Rocket Engine
to Leave Orbit
19 April 2008 3:47 a.m. EDT
The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft carrying
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and South
Korean spaceflyer So-yeon Yi has fired its rocket engine to begin a 4-minute,
19-second maneuver to begin the descent back to Earth.
Malenchenko is watching the
maneuver. All continues to go well.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Soyuz Crew Prepares to Leave Orbit
19 April 2008 3:27 a.m. EDT
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson,
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and South Korean spaceflyer So-yeon Yi are preparing
to leave orbit for the descent back to Earth via short engine burn by their
Soyuz spacecraft.
The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft is due
to fire its engines at about 3:40 a.m. EDT (0740 GMT) for about 4 minutes, 19
seconds to slow its rate enough to begin descending through Earth?s atmosphere.
The three segment Soyuz will then
separate into three compartments ? the crew-carrying return module, orbital
module and the lower, engine-tipped segment. The crew module will descend to
Earth under parachutes and braking rockets, while the no longer needed orbital
and engine modules will be discarded.
The Expedition 16 crew are due
to land at 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT) on the central Asian steppes of Kazakhstan,
where NASA officials on site are reporting a clear, cloudless sky. The Soyuz
undocked smoothly at 1:06 a.m. EDT (0506 GMT).
Here?s a rundown of tonight?s major
activities:
Hatch closure: 10:08 p.m. EDT
Undocking: 1:06 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 12:30 a.m. EDT
Deorbit
burn: 3:40 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 3:15 a.m. EDT
Landing: 4:30 a.m. EDT
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Soyuz Crew Pulls Away From Space
Station
19 April 2008 1:53 a.m. EDT
The Russian-built Soyuz TMA-11
spacecraft ferrying Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri
Malenchenko and South Korean astronaut So-yeon Yi back
to Earth after its undocking from the International Space Station.
With Malenchenko at the helm, the
Soyuz spacecraft is now more than 2.5 miles away from the space station. It
undocked from its Earth-facing berth on the station?s Zarya control
module 1:06:30 a.m. EDT (0506:30 GMT).
NASA commentator Rob Navias, attached to the recovery helicopter team that will retrieve the Soyuz crew after their planned 4:30 a.m. EDT (0800 GMT) return, said it is a clear, cloudless day on the central Asian steppes of their Kazakhstan landing zone.
Here?s a rundown of tonight?s major
activities:
Hatch closure: 10:08 p.m. EDT
Undocking: 1:06 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 12:30 a.m. EDT
Deorbit
burn: 3:40 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 3:15 a.m. EDT
Landing: 4:30 a.m. EDT
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Minutes From Undocking
from ISS
19 April 2008 1:01 a.m. EDT
Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson,
flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and South Korean astronaut So-yeon Yi are now
minutes away from undocking from the International Space Station and begin
their trip
back to Earth.
They are clad in their Russian-built
Sokol
pressure suits for the return trip to Earth and are due to undock at about 1:06
a.m. EDT (0506 GMT) from an Earth-facing berth on the station?s Zarya
module.
Malenchenko is serving as Soyuz commander and his flying under the callsign Agat, Russian for the gemstone agate.
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Prepare to Cast Off From
ISS
19 April 2008 12:32 a.m. EDT
Tucked inside their Russian-built
Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft, Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, flight engineer
Yuri Malenchenko and South Korean astronaut So-yeon Yi are preparing to undock
from the International Space Station and begin their trip
back to Earth.
The Soyuz is due to undock at about
1:06 a.m. EDT (0506 GMT). Hatches between the two spacecraft were closed
earlier this evening at 10:09 p.m. EDT (0209 GMT).
Whitson and Malenchenko are wrapping
up a six-month mission to the station, while Yi is completing a 10-day trip
under a commercial agreement between South Korea and the Russian Federal Space
Agency. Yi arrived to the station with Expedition 17 commander Sergei Volkov
and Oleg Kononenko, who are now in control of the outpost alongside NASA
astronaut Garrett Reisman.
Here?s a rundown of tonight?s major
activities:
Hatch closure: 10:09 p.m. EDT
Undocking: 1:06 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 12:30 a.m. EDT
Deorbit
burn: 3:40 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 3:15 a.m. EDT
Landing: 4:30 a.m. EDT
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Astronauts Shut Hatches Between
Soyuz, ISS
18 April 2008 10:29 p.m. EDT
Expedition 16 commander Peggy
Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and South Korea?s first astronaut, So-Yeon
Yi are inside their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft and have shut the hatch leading to
the International Space Station as they prepare for their planned
Saturday landing.
?The hatches on both sides are
closed,? Expedition 17 commander Sergei Volkov radioed to Russian Mission
Control in Korolev,
outside of Moscow.
Hatches were closed at about 10:09
p.m. EDT (0209 April 19 GMT), NASA said.
Recorded video of their farewell
ceremony, which was not televised live, showed Yi and the two Expedition 16
astronauts sharing hearty goodbye hugs with their Expedition 17 replacements.
Here?s a rundown of tonight?s major
activities:
Hatch closure: 10:09 p.m. EDT
Undocking: 1:06 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 12:30 a.m. EDT
Deorbit
burn: 3:40 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 3:15 a.m. EDT
Landing: 4:30 a.m. EDT
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Space Station Crew Prepares for
Departure
18 April 2008 9:30 p.m. EDT
Expedition 16 commander
Peggy Whitson, flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and South Korea?s first astronaut,
So-Yeon Yi are preparing to shut the hatch between their Soyuz spacecraft and
the orbiting lab after a brief farewell ceremony as they prepare to return
to Earth Saturday.
Here?s a rundown of tonight?s major
activities:
Hatch closure: 10:09 p.m. EDT
Undocking: 1:06 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 12:30 a.m. EDT
Deorbit
burn: 3:40 a.m. EDT, coverage begins at 3:15 a.m. EDT
Landing: 4:30 a.m. EDT
Click
here for SPACE.com?s preview of the Expedition 16 crew?s landing
activities.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 16 crew's landing live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Tariq Malik
Spaceflyers Gather for Welcome
Ceremony
10 April 2008 12:03 p.m. EDT
All six spaceflyers convened in the International Space Station for a welcome ceremony to greet two new cosmonauts, Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, and South Korea?s first astronaut, So-Yeon Yi.
During the ceremony the crewmembers received calls from gathered international dignitaries at the Russian mission control center outside Moscow.
Volkov, the first second-generation spaceflyer to reach space, received congratulations in Russian from his father, famed cosmonaut Alexander Volkov.
Yi also received many well-wishes from Korean spaceflight representatives.
?I feel really great,? she said. ?I will try to do my best and I will spend all my energy for Koreans.?
The Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft carrying the three new spaceflyers docked with the International Space Station at 8:57 a.m. EDT (1257 GMT).
Click here for SPACE.com?s docking story.
NASA is providing live coverage of today?s docking events 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.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Hatches Open Between Soyuz, ISS
10 April 2008 11:40 a.m. EDT
The crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) welcomed aboard three new spaceflyers after opening the hatches between their two spacecraft at 11:40 a.m. EDT (1540 GMT). The ISS is currently passing over South America.
Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineers Yuri Malenchenko and Garret Reisman welcomed aboard Expedition 17 cosmonauts Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, and South Korea?s first astronaut, So-Yeon Yi. There were hugs all around.
Volkov and Konenenko are beginning a six month stay aboard the orbital lab, and Yi will visit for about nine days before coming home with Whitson and Malenchenko.
The Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft carrying the three new spaceflyers docked with the International Space Station at 8:57 a.m. EDT (1257 GMT).
Click here for SPACE.com?s docking story.
NASA is providing live coverage of today?s docking events 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.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Soyuz Spaceflyers Readying to Enter
Space Station
10 April 2008 10:16 a.m. EDT
The two Russian cosmonauts and South Korean astronaut are preparing to open the hatches between their Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS) at 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT).
The hooks and latches between the two vehicles are fully engaged, and astronauts are checking to make sure there are no leaks before they open the hatches.
The Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft carrying Expedition 17 cosmonauts Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, and South Korea?s first astronaut, So-Yeon Yi, docked with the International Space Station at 8:57 a.m. EDT (1257 GMT).
The crew launched on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on an almost 11-day crew swap mission.
Click here for SPACE.com?s docking story.
NASA is providing live coverage of today?s docking events 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.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Leak Checks Underway Between Soyuz,
ISS
10 April 2008 9:10 a.m. EDT
The hooks and latches between the recently docked Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS) are being closed for a hard mate between the two vehicles. Astronauts aboard both vehicles are conducting leak checks as they prepare to open the hatches.
?Hi Yuri, Hi Peggy,? commander Sergei Volkov said in greeting to current space station inhabitants Peggy Whitson and Yuri Malenchenko.
The Russian spacecraft ferrying Volkov, along with fellow cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and South Korea?s first astronaut, So-Yeon Yi, docked with the International Space Station at 8:57 a.m. EDT (1257 GMT).
The crew launched on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on an almost 11-day crew swap mission.
Click here for SPACE.com?s launch wrap story.
NASA is providing live coverage of today?s docking events 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.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Soyuz Docks With International Space
Station
10 April 2008 8:57 a.m. EDT
The Russian spacecraft ferrying Expedition 17 cosmonauts Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, and South Korea?s first astronaut, So-Yeon Yi, has docked with the International Space Station at 8:57 a.m. EDT (1257 GMT).
?Everything is nominal,? Volkov said.
The crew launched on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on an almost 11-day crew swap mission.
Click here for SPACE.com?s launch wrap story.
NASA is providing live coverage of today?s docking events 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.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Spacecraft Completes Second Orbital
Adjustment
8 April 2008 12:03 p.m. EDT
The Russian spacecraft bearing three rookie spaceflyers to the International Space Station (ISS) has completed its second orbital burn to adjust its course toward the orbital lab.
The Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft is currently flying over Western Europe on its journey to dock with the ISS Thursday, April 10 at 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).
The two Expedition 17 cosmonauts, and South Korea?s first astronaut, launched this morning at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it was 5:25 p.m.
Click here for SPACE.com?s launch wrap story.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 17 launch live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV, feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Expedition 17 Spacecraft
Heading to the Space Station
8 April 2008 11:40 a.m. EDT
The three rookie spaceflyers aboard a Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft are orbiting above South America on their journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft has made the first of three orbital adjustment maneuvers to put in on a heading to dock with the orbital lab Thursday, April 10 at 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).
The two Expedition 17 cosmonauts, and South Korea?s first astronaut, launched this morning at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it was 5:25 p.m.
Click here for SPACE.com?s launch wrap story.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 17 launch live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV, feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Expedition 17 Reaches Space
8 April 2008 7:28 a.m. EDT
The Expedition 17 cosmonauts, and South Korea?s first astronaut, have reached space.
?We?re feeling fine, everything is nominal,? Volkov reported.
Cosmonauts Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko and South Korean spaceflight participant So-Yeon Yi launched into space aboard a Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft about on time at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it was 5:25 p.m. They are due to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday.
Click here for SPACE.com?s launch preview story.
NASA is broadcasting the Expedition 17 launch live on NASA TV. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV, feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.
-- Clara Moskowitz
Soyuz Spacecraft on its Way to Space
8 April 2008 7:20 a.m. EDT
The spacecraft is en route to the International Space Station (ISS).
Three spaceflyers launched into space aboard a Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft about on time at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it was 5:25 p.m.











