posted 09-02-2011 03:25 AM               

Soyuz TMA-22 launch delayed by loss of Progress

The launch of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft with three Expedition 29 crew members for the International Space Station has been delayed as the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos investigates the Aug. 24 loss of an unmanned Progress resupply craft.

Cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoli Ivanishin together with NASA astronaut Dan Burbank were scheduled to liftoff aboard Soyuz TMA-22 on Sept. 22, 2011.

Pending the identification and resolution of the problem that caused a Soyuz U rocket's upper stage to fail to place Progress M-12M into orbit and following two unmanned launches to verify that the repair was successful, Soyuz TMA-22 is expected to launch sometime at the end of October.

posted 09-02-2011 03:32 AM               

Soyuz TMA-22 crews take part in final exams

The Soyuz TMA-22 prime and back-up crews participated in the first day of the traditional final exams at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (TsPK) in Star City.

The prime crew — Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoli Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank — was examined in the ISS simulator (starting at 8:40 a.m. local time). They had to solve the following 'anomalies': low pressure levels, communication failure between U.S. and Russian segments, communication problem of central computer, problems with the toilet, and, in the final phase, a fire. The crew had no problems in handling these issues.

In the meantime, the backup crew was examined in the Soyuz simulator. At 8:20 a.m., commander Gennady Padalka reported the readiness of his crew — including Sergei Revin and Joe Acaba — to the examination commission.

Padalka then selected an envelope which contained the emergency scenarios his crew had to cope with on the Soyuz. These included: a disruption of the communications link, angular velocity sensor failure, a leak after separating, and a failure of the control system of the propulsion system during descent.

On day two, the crews will swap places.

posted 09-04-2011 08:26 AM               

Soyuz TMA-22 crews complete final exams

On Sept. 2, thee Soyuz TMA-22 prime and backup crews had their second and last day of the final exams in Star City.

Dressed in their Sokol spacesuits, crew members Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoly Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank reported their readiness to the examination committee, after which Soyuz commander Shkaplerov selected an envelope containing the problems that would be thrown at them during the test in the Soyuz simulator.

Before entering the simulator, the crew answered questions from journalists. Among the questions was what the most difficult issue was that they faced the first day. Ivanishin jokingly replied: "The most difficult thing for us was to understand why it took such such a long time for the examination committee to discuss our exam."

The 'anomalies' the crew faced during the exam inside the Soyuz simulator were: a problem during separation from the Soyuz rocket; disruption of automatic control when using the orbital coordinate system; failure of automatic approach at a distance of 5 km; leakage in the pneumatic system of the combined propulsion system during undocking; crash of on-board computer during descent (requiring a transition to manual mode); and failure of the sensor of angular velocity during the atmospheric portion of the descent.

The backup crew of Gennady Padalka, Sergei Revin and Joe Acaba began their exams in the International Space Station (ISS) simulator. Before entering the Zvezda module, the crew posed for traditional photography. The 'anomalies' which the crew had to solve were: a problem with the main transmitter connection; a problem with oxygen heneration system (pressure lower than normal); a leak in the waste collection system (toilet); an overflow in the waste collection system; and a leake in the Russian segment of the ISS.

Upon completion of the comprehensive exam, Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov thanked the crew for the good and efficient work and thanked the trainers of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center for the excellent test.

The prime crew was rated 5.0 (out of 5), with the back-up crew obtaining a 4.8 result.

posted 09-13-2011 11:46 AM               

Soyuz TMA-22 launch rescheduled for Nov. 12

The launch of Soyuz TMA-22 to the International Space Station with Expedition 29 crew members Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoli Ivanishin and Dan Burbank has been rescheduled for Nov. 12, 2011.

According to Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos, the revised launch date was set after a interdepartmental commission completed its investigation into the August loss of the Progress M-12M station resupply vehicle.

Roscosmos is working with NASA to coordinate the crew schedules aboard the space station.

posted 09-15-2011 04:33 PM               

Station partners agree on Nov. 14 TMA-22 launch

NASA and its international partners have agreed to a tentative launch schedule with crew flights to the International Space Station (ISS) resuming on Nov. 14.

The Space Station Control Board, with representation from all partner agencies, set the schedule after hearing the Russian Federal Space Agency’s findings on the Aug. 24 loss of the Progress 44 cargo craft. The dates may be adjusted to reflect minor changes in vehicle processing timelines.

"Our top priority is the safety of our crew members," ISS program manager Michael Suffredini said. "The plan approved today, coupled with the conditions on orbit, allow the partnership to support this priority while ensuring astronauts will continue to live and work on the station uninterrupted,"

"Our Russian colleagues have completed an amazing amount of work in a very short time to determine root cause and develop a recovery plan that allows for a safe return to flight. We'll have a longer period of three-person operations and a shorter than usual handover between the next two crews, but we are confident that the crews will be able to continue valuable research and execute a smooth crew transition," he said.

According to the current plan, the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft, carrying NASA's Dan Burbank and Russia's Anatoly Ivanishin and Anton Shkaplerov, will launch Nov. 14 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and arrive at the station on Nov. 16.

On Nov. 22, ISS Expedition 29 commander Mike Fossum of NASA, Satoshi Furukawa of Japan and Sergei Volkov of Russia will undock Soyuz TMA-02M and land in the northern Kazakhstan landing zone.

Expedition 30 commander Burbank, Ivanishin and Shkaplerov will work as a three-person crew for 36 days.

The remainder of the Expedition 30 crew — NASA's Don Pettit, Russia's Oleg Kononenko and Europe's Andre Kuipers — will launch to the station aboard the Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft on or about Dec. 26 and dock to the station two days later. The exact launch date is under review.

posted 10-25-2011 11:14 AM               

NASA astronaut and Expedition 30 commander Dan Burbank and Russian flight engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:14 p.m. CST on Nov. 13 (10:14 a.m. local time on Nov. 14).

NASA TV's scheduled coverage includes (all times Central):

• Monday, Oct. 24
  2 p.m. – Video file of Soyuz TMA-22 crew news conference in Star City, Russia, and visit to Red Square in Moscow

• Monday, Oct. 31
  11 a.m. – Video file from Star City of crew departure for Baikonur, Kazakhstan

• Thursday, Nov. 10
  11 a.m. – Video file of crew activities in Baikonur

• Friday, Nov. 11
  11 a.m. – Video file of rocket rollout to the launch pad in Baikonur

• Saturday, Nov. 12
  2 p.m. – Video file of final prelaunch crew news conference and Russian State Commission meeting in Baikonur

• Sunday, Nov. 13
  8:45 p.m. – Video file feed of the crew prelaunch activities in Baikonur
  9:30 p.m. – Launch coverage (launch scheduled for 10:14 p.m.), including launch replays

• Monday, Nov. 14
  1 a.m. – Video file of prelaunch, launch and postlaunch interviews

• Tuesday, Nov. 15
  11 p.m. – Docking coverage (docking scheduled for 11:37 p.m.), followed by the post-docking news conference from Mission Control in Korolev, Russia
  2:30 a.m. – Hatch opening and welcoming ceremony (hatch opening scheduled for 2:45 a.m.)
  4:30 a.m. – Video file of docking, hatch opening and welcoming ceremony

posted 10-25-2011 11:15 AM               

The Soyuz TMA-22 (ISS-29/30) prime and back-up crew participated in the traditional pre-flight press conference in Star City.

Anton Shkaplerov admitted to journalists that one of the most interesting activities during the mission will be the Chibis-M micro-satellite, to be launched with the Progress M-13M cargo spacecraft.

He also revealed that his call sign will be "Astra," and that the "weightless indicator" (hung on the ceiling of the Soyuz cabin) will be a little red bird from the mobile game "Angry Birds," which he got from his 5-year old daughter.

Anatoli Ivanishin stated to be most interested in the 'Typology' experiment — the study of typological features of operator activity of ISS at different stages of space flight. Dan Burbank described experiments that will study the effects of weightlessness on humans.

During the event, "rookie" cosmonauts Shkaplerov and Ivanishin also received their flight-cosmonaut certificates, no. 135 for Shkaplerov and no. 136 for Ivanishin.

In addition, the crew and their back-ups went to Moscow for the traditional pre-flight tour of Red Square.

posted 11-11-2011 09:18 AM               

Soyuz TMA-22 rolled out to launch pad

A new trio of space station residents, Expedition 29 flight engineers Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoly Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank are set to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:14:04 p.m. CST on Sunday (11:14 a.m. Baikonur time Monday) aboard the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft.

In preparation for its launch, the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft was rolled out to the launch pad Friday morning (Nov. 11).

posted 11-13-2011 01:49 PM               

Soyuz TMA-22 crew gets final approval for launch

Soyuz TMA-22 commander Anton Shkaplerov, NASA flight engineer Dan Burbank and Roscosmos' Anatoly Ivanishin appeared before the Russian State Commission on Nov. 12, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The commission gave its final approval for their launch.

The crew also conducted a final pre-launch news conference at the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters and prepared for liftoff on Nov. 14, Baikonur time, in the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft.

Also featured in the video are the backup crew members, Soyuz commander Gennady Padalka, NASA flight engineer Joe Acaba and Roscosmos flight engineer Sergei Revin.

posted 11-13-2011 07:46 PM               

TMA-22 crew dons parkas for snowy ride to pad

Soyuz TMA-22 commander Anton Shkaplerov, NASA flight engineer Dan Burbank and Roscosmos' Anatoly Ivanishin departed their crew quarters for the launch pad Sunday evening (Monday morning local time), where they are scheduled to lift off for the International Space Station at 10:14 p.m. CST (0414 GMT Nov. 14).

Due to the weather, the trio had to don special overcoats.

"On the way to the pad," wrote backup crew member Joe Acaba on Twitter. "Snow is falling. First time [a] crew has had to wear these overcoats/parkas. All is go so far."

posted 11-13-2011 10:27 PM               

Soyuz TMA-22 launches cosmonauts, US astronaut to the space station

Two Russian cosmonauts, a NASA astronaut and an "Angry Bird" took off for the International Space Station Sunday evening (Nov. 13), soaring through falling snow and setting several historical firsts and lasts in the process.

The Russian Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft lifted off on top a Soyuz-U booster from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan at 10:14 p.m. CST (11:14 a.m. local time, 0414 GMT Monday, Nov. 14). On board were Roscosmos Soyuz commander Anton Shkaplerov, flight engineer Anatoly Ivanishin and NASA astronaut Dan Burbank.

posted 11-15-2011 11:38 PM               

Soyuz TMA-22 docks with the space station

Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoly Ivanishin and Daniel Burbank docked their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft at the International Space Station's Poisk mini-research module at 11:24 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Nov. 15 (0524 GMT Nov. 16), nine minutes earlier than scheduled.

After the hatches between the Soyuz and station were opened at 1:39 a.m. CST, Expedition 29 commander Mike Fossum and flight engineers Satoshi Furukawa and Sergei Volkov welcomed the new flight engineers aboard for their four-month stay on the complex.

The six station crew members will have just under a week together as the Expedition 29 crew before Fossum, Furukawa and Volkov head home Monday aboard the Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft that brought them to the station June 9. Their departure will mark the beginning of Expedition 30, under the command of Burbank.

A formal change-of-command ceremony is planned for Sunday.

Three more flight engineers – Don Pettit, Oleg Kononenko and Andre Kuipers – are scheduled to launch to the station Dec. 21.

Burbank is making his third visit to the station. His previous two visits were both on space shuttle Atlantis. During the STS-106 mission in September 2000, he helped prepare the station for its first permanent crew. During STS-115 in September 2006, he conducted a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk that completed truss installation, activated the solar alpha rotary joint and enabled the solar arrays to be deployed.

This is the first spaceflight for both Shkaplerov and Ivanishin.

posted 04-26-2012 07:52 PM               

Soyuz TMA-22 crew returning to Earth on Friday

The six astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station packed cargo and shifted their sleep schedule Thursday as three Expedition 30 crew members prepare to return to Earth early Friday after five and a half months in space.

Expedition 30 commander Dan Burbank and flight engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, who arrived at the orbiting complex on Nov. 16, are set to undock in their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft at 3:18 a.m. CDT Friday (0818 GMT) for a landing in the steppe of Kazakhstan at 6:45 a.m. CDT (1145 GMT).

Their departure will mark the end of Expedition 30 and beginning of Expedition 31 under the command of Oleg Kononenko, who along with flight engineers Andre Kuipers and Don Pettit will remain aboard the station until July. Three additional Expedition 31 crew members – flight engineers Gennady Padalka, Sergei Revin and Joe Acaba – will arrive at the complex aboard the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft May 17.

posted 04-27-2012 03:18 AM               

Soyuz TMA-22 departs the space station

Russia's Soyuz TMA-22 crewed by Expedition 30 commander Dan Burbank and flight engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday (April 27) at 3:18 a.m. CDT (0818 GMT).

The spacefarers are set to land on the steppe of Kazakhstan in a few hours time, wrapping up their 165 days in space.

posted 04-27-2012 06:47 AM               

Soyuz TMA-22 returns to Earth

NASA astronaut Daniel Burbank and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin returned to Earth on board the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft on Friday after 165 days off the planet, all but two days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The Soyuz landed on Friday (April 27) at 6:45 a.m. CST (11:45 GMT) on the steppe of Kazakhstan, near the town of Arkalyk.

Burbank, Shkaplerov, and Ivanishin arrived at the space station on Nov. 16 aboard the same spacecraft, TMA-22, as they landed, joining the Expedition 29 crew as flight engineers. ISS Expedition 30 began and Burbank took command when Expedition 29 crew members Mike Fossum, Satoshi Furukawa and Sergei Volkov left the station on Nov. 21.

Their mission over, the three TMA-22 crew members will be flown to Karaganda for a Kazakh welcome home ceremony. Shkaplerov and Ivanishin will then go to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, outside of Moscow, while Burbank will be flown to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to begin his rehabilitation.