Launch News Soyuz TMA-04M, Soyuz-FG, May 15, 2012 (launch, docking and landing updates)

[Cosmic Penguin]

I'm surprised there're no threads for the next crew launch to the International Space Station....so I'm setting up one.
This is the first in a series of 5 confirmed consecutive launches worldwide in a span of less than 72 hours (including at least 3 within 3 hours of each other!).
On board are 3 new crew members of ISS expedition 31/32, 2 from Russia and 1 from the US.
This is the 113th manned Soyuz mission to fly, and the fourth of the Soyuz-TMA-M series. The launch was delayed by almost two months when the original spacecraft scheduled to fly was damaged in a vacuum chamber test in January (the descent module was a write-off), and this flight will feature the next one, Soyuz-TM s/n 705.

Launch location:

Baikonur Launch pad no. 1/5 45°55'12.85"N, 63°20'32.27"E

Launch dates and times:

{colsp=6}Launch times

Time Zone |

Australia - Sydney/AEST (UTC+11) ​

|

Baikonur / UTC+6 ​

|

Moscow / MSKS (UTC+4) ​

|

Universal / UTC ​

|

Washington / EDT (UTC-4) ​

Launch time (Primary): ​

|

14:01:23​

|

09:01:23​

|

07:01:23​

|

03:01:23​

|

23:01:23​

on: ​

|

May. 15, 2012​

|

May. 15, 2012​

|

May. 15, 2012​

|

May. 15, 2012​

|

May. 14, 2012​

Launch time (Backup): ​

|

13:13:07​

|

08:13:07​

|

06:13:07​

|

02:13:07​

|

22:13:07​

on: ​

|

May. 17, 2012​

|

May. 17, 2012​

|

May. 17, 2012​

|

May. 17, 2012​

|

May. 16, 2012​

{colsp=6}

[highlight][eventTimer]2012-05-15 03:01:23?before|after;%dd% Days %hh% Hours %mm% Minutes %ss% Seconds %c%[/eventTimer] Soyuz TMA-04M Launch[/highlight]​

{colsp=6}Docking times

Time Zone |

Australia - Sydney/AEST (UTC+11) ​

|

Moscow / MSKS (UTC+4)/ ​

|

Universal / UTC ​

|

Washington / EST (UTC-5) ​

Docking time (Primary): ​

|

15:38:29 +-3 min​

|

08:38:29 +-3 min​

|

04:38:29 +-3 min​

|

00:38:29 +-3 min​

on: ​

|

May. 17, 2012​

|

May. 17, 2012​

|

May. 17, 2012​

|

May. 17, 2012​

Docking time (Backup): ​

|

15:25 +-3 min​

|

08:25 +-3 min​

|

04:25 +-3 min​

|

00:25 +-3 min​

on: ​

|

May. 19, 2012​

|

May. 19, 2012​

|

May. 19, 2012​

|

May. 19, 2012​

{colsp=6}

[highlight][eventTimer]2012-05-17 04:38:29?before|after;%dd% Days %hh% Hours %mm% Minutes %ss% Seconds %c%[/eventTimer] Soyuz TMA-04M docking to ISS[/highlight]​

Live Coverage Of The Launch:

• NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html (since 9:00 p.m. EDT / 01:00 UTC)
• TSENKI Video Streams: http://www.tsenki.com/broadcast/broadcast/ - coverage since 03:50 MSKS (23:50 UTC)
• Vesti (short stand-up right before launch): http://www.vesti.ru/videos?vid=onair

Soyuz TMA-04M (industry id 11F747 #705, NASA id Soyuz 30S) manned spaceship

The crew:

|

|

Commander Gennady Padalka, Roscosmos (previous flight experience: Soyuz TM-28 / Mir Exp. 26, Soyuz TMA-4 / ISS Exp. 6, Soyuz TMA-14 / ISS Exp. 19/20)​

|

Flight Engineer Sergei Revin, Roscosmos (previous flight experience: none)​

|

Flight Engineer Joseph Acaba, NASA (previous flight experience: STS-119)​

The mission patch:

Mission Profile

Ascent Chart:

1. Approach and Docking Chart:

The times below are Moscow Time (UTC+4), commas separate fractional part of numbers:

The expected payload separation time: 07h 10m 11.26s

2. Orbital Parameters of Soyuz TMA-04M and the ISS

Parameter|Designation|Soyuz TMA-04M at 15/05|ISS at 17/05
Orbital Period|T, min|88.64 +-0.367|92.46
Inclination|i, degrees|51.67 +-0.058|51.66
Min altitude|h, km|200 +7 -22|392.2
Max altitude|H, km|242 +-42|413.8

Phase angle between the space ship and the ISS is about 340 degrees
Projected duration of the space ship at the nominal orbit is no less than 20 orbits (~30 hrs)

3. Transfer maneuvers
(two days long approach scheme applied)

* Nominal two-burn maneuver and two-burn orbit phasing correction

Date|Burn at|Orbit #|Delta V, m/s|Burn duration, s|post-burn T,min|post-burn i,deg|post-burn h,km|post-burn H,km
15.05.12|10:36:52|3|24.27|60.7|89.46|51.65|217.1|286.4
15.05.12|11:19:18|4|7.42|19.4|89.71|51.66|241.7|289.4

* The 2nd day's one-burn correction

Date|Burn at|Orbit #|Delta V, m/s|Burn duration, s|post-burn T,min|post-burn i,deg|post-burn h,km|post-burn H,km
16.05.12|08:11:05|17|2.00|29.1|89.76|51.66|248.1|288.0

Autonomous approach program is initiated at 06:18:46

4. Approach at the Close range

Flyaround, station keeping and docking are to be performed from May 17th, 2012 at 08 hrs 18 min 52 sec before making contact

5. Docking

Contact and capture are to be performed on May 17th, 2012 at 08 hrs 38 min 29 sec +-3 min

Docking is performed to MIM-2 Poisk +Y docking node

Launch Vehicle:

{colsp=2}Characteristics

|

{colsp=2}

Soyuz-U​

Prime contractor:​

|

• Samara Space Sentre (Energia Holding enterprise)
  

GRAU Index:​

|

• 11A511U-FG

Height:​

| 51.1 m

Diameter:​

| max 10.3 m

Liftoff mass:​

| 313 metric tonnes

Payload mass:​

| 6.95 tonnes at ISS orbit from Baikonur

1st stage (boosters B, V, G, D):​

|

• 4 X RD-107A engines
• Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
• Thrust/ISP in vacuum - / 316 s
• Thrust/ISP at sea level 79.4 tonnes / 253 s
• Total 1st stage's thrust at sea level: 411.1 tonnes

2nd stage (core A):​

|

• 1 X RD-108A engine
• Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
• Thrust/ISP in vacuum 102 tonnes / 314 s
• Thrust/ISP at sea level 83.5 tonnes / 257 s

3rd stage (block I):​

|

• 1 X RD-0110 engine
• Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
• Thrust/ISP in vacuum 30.38 tonnes / 359 s

The vehicle's reliability statistics according to http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/log2012.html#rate:

================================================================ 
Vehicle     Successes/Tries Realzd Pred  Consc. Last     Dates    
                             Rate  Rate* Succes Fail    
================================================================
Soyuz-FG         28    28   1.00  .97     28    None     2001-

Weather forecast for Baikonur, Kazakhstan on May 15, 2012 (9 a.m.)

Time|Temps|Wind|Chill|Heat Index|UV Index|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Clouds|Visibility|Wind|Weather
9 AM|25°C|25°C|25°C|3|Moderate|11°C|43%|0%|0%|10%|16KM|ENE 1.8 m/s|

Sunny

Lighting conditions

Times are local.

Event|Time
Astronomical twilight begins|04:00
Nautical twilight begins|04:53
Civil twilight begins|05:38
Sunrise|06:12
Transit (sun is at its highest)|13:42
Sunset|21:13
Civil twilight ends|21:47
Nautical twilight ends|22:32
Astronomical twilight ends|23:25

Orbiter Launch scenario

For Orbiter 2010P1, Requires addons:

• Thorton's ISS v3.2 or higher ([ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4545"]Soyuz FG/U v1.2[/ame])
• Soyuz FG Launch Vehicle v1.2 or higher ([ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3737"]International Space Station v.3.2[/ame])
• Recommended: Baikonur 2010: Surface Tiles v1.0 or higher ([ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4885"]Baikonur 2010: Surface Tiles v1.0[/ame])

BEGIN_DESC
Soyuz TMA-04M to ISS, Launched from LC 1.

Note: I have only added FGB Zarya in place of the ISS in present day configuration. Its purpose is to mark the approximate real position of the ISS. Feel free to add more modules and spacecraft for realism.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 56062.124340
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  Ship Launchpad
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET Launchpad
  MODE Extern
  POS 3.01 -0.29 0.43
  TRACKMODE TargetRelative
  FOV 30.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_SHIPS
SoyuzTMA-04M:ISSR\SouyzTMA
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -128.5364451 26.0026864
  HEADING 96.22
  ATTACHED 0:5,Stage3
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  CAM 0 0.0000 1
  SOL_DEP 0 0.0000 1
  ENG_COV 0 0.0000 1 0 0
  VKA 0 0.0000 1
  PROBE 0 0.0000 1 0.0000
  LIGHT 1 0
  BATTERY 39938.4015 95.0914
  SHOWDATA 1
  DEPLOY 60.0000
  TRACK 0
  INIT 1
  TARGET 
  CURDOCK 0
  CMST 0
  DETACH 0
  DEPRESS 0 0.0000
  IMP 3
  ALLOW_BALLISTIC
END
SAS:r7_SZ\LES
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000 1:1.000
  LESTYPE 3
END
Fairing1:r7_SZ\TMA_fairing
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.0000
  FTYPE 0
  MESHNAME1 r7_SZ\SF12
  MESHNAME2 r7_SZ\SF02
END
Fairing2:r7_SZ\TMA_fairing
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.0000
  FTYPE 0
  MESHNAME1 r7_SZ\SF11
  MESHNAME2 r7_SZ\SF01
END
BlockI:r7_SZ\BlockI
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  FAIRING1 Fairing2
  FREF1 -1.245 0 -3
  FROT1 0 -1 0
  FAIRING2 Fairing1 
  FREF2 -1.245 -0.005 -3
  FROT2 0 1 0
  LES SAS
  PAYLOAD SoyuzTMA-04M
  PREF 0 0 -3
  PAY_ADAPTER 0
END
BlockB:r7_SZ\BlockBD
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  BODY_MESHNAME r7_SZ\BlockBD
END
BlockV:r7_SZ\BlockBD
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  BODY_MESHNAME r7_SZ\BlockBD 
END
BlockG:r7_SZ\BlockBD
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  BODY_MESHNAME r7_SZ\BlockBD
END
BlockD:r7_SZ\BlockBD
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  BODY_MESHNAME r7_SZ\BlockBD
END
Launcher:r7_SZ\BlockA
  STATUS Landed Earth
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  =========== BLOCK A vars 
  PAYLOAD BlockI
  PREF 0.0 0.0 -4.25
  ADAPTER_MESHNAME r7_SZ\BlockIAdapter
  BODY_MESHNAME r7_SZ\BlockA
  BLOCK_B BlockB 
  BLOCK_V BlockV 
  BLOCK_G BlockG 
  BLOCK_D BlockD 
END
Launchpad:r7_SZ\Launchpad
 STATUS Landed Earth
 LAUNCHER Launcher
 LAUNCH_MJD 56062.125961
 ORBIT 200.00 242.00 51.66
 BOOMS_MESHNAME r7_SZ\BoomS
 FUELING_MAST 1.00
 CABLEMAST_MESHNAME r7_SZ\CableMast
 TABLETOP_MESHNAME r7_SZ\TableTop1Late
END
kmlWriter:r7_SZ\kmlWriter
  STATUS Landed Earth
END
ISS:ISSR\Zarya
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS -1856138.59 3574584.19 -5474217.90
  RVEL 4353.730 -4492.135 -4424.860
  AROT 0.00 -0.00 0.00
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:0.500000 1:0.500000
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 161
  ANT 0 0.0000 1
  CAM 1
  SOL_DEP 0 0.0000 1
  ControlMode 0
  SOL_ST 0.0000 0
  MSSTATE 0
  LIGHT 1 1
  BATTERY 95600.0000 1.0000
  SHOWDATA 1
END
END_SHIPS

Simulated boosting phase screenshot

References
http://www.mcc.rsa.ru/progress_m14m.htm
http://www.federalspace.ru
http://tvroscosmos.ru
http://www.tsenki.com
http://www.samspace.ru
http://www.npoenergomash.ru/engines/
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru
http://www.spacelaunchreport.com
http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Forecast.aspx
http://www.good-stuff.co.uk/suntimes/sunmap.php
http://www.orbithangar.com

 

[Codz]

Great catch.

 

[N_Molson]

A manned launch. It's been a while :thumbup:

 

[SiberianTiger]

I think it's worthy of reminding that modification of Soyuz TMA-M series is a multi-stage work, and virtually each new item is different from previous in some way. There was a reference table in Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine that lists the stages of modernizartion few years ago. Not sure if it had been translated and posted anywhere before, but I'm quoting it here.

Production item #|Public designation|NASA Designation|Flown on/To fly on|Modification|Comments
701|TMA-01M|24S|Oct 7, 2010|New digital computer TsVM-101, new digital onboard telemetry system (MBITS)|
702|TMA-02M|27S|Jun 6, 2011|Upgrade to EFIR device (electronic former of propellant consumption pulses)|
703|TMA-03M|29S|Dec 21, 2011|New solar arrays with better filling of surface with photovoltaic elements with better KPI; Increase of capacity of the buffer batteries from 350 A*h to 425 A*h|In orbit now
704|-|-|not flown|Replacement of SMI-4 lights by SFOK LED headlight; Additional meteorite shielding on the Orbital Module.|Descent module broken during pressurization testing
705|TMA-04M|30S|May 15, 2012|Replacement of Descent Module's system Rassvet-M by Rassvet-3BM. This new system will work after landing by determination of the touchdown point's coordinates by the built-in GPS/GLONASS receiver and transmit the coordinates to MCC-M via Kospas/SARSAT beacon|Combines DM from the original #705 and OM&SM from the original #704
708|(TBD)|(TBD)|Spring 2013|The docking node will have additional latching electric motors for better hard docking|
710|(TBD)|(TBD)|Fall 2013|Replacement of Kvant-V control and comms equipment by a new system capable of remote controlling the craft via Luch relay system
711|(TBD)|(TBD)|Fall 2013|Different placement of DPO motors; replacement of orbit radio tracking system by ASN-K satellite navigation system; replacement of docking system Kurs-A by enhanced Kurs-NA; replacement of VSK-4 optical sight by TV system with the pilot's display.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

I think it's worthy of reminding that modification of Soyuz TMA-M series is a multi-stage work, and virtually each new item is different from previous in some way. There was a reference table in Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine that lists the stages of modernizartion few years ago. Not sure if it had been translated and posted anywhere before, but I'm quoting it here.

Production item #|Public designation|NASA Designation|Flown on/To fly on|Modification|Comments
701|TMA-01M|24S|Oct 7, 2010|New digital computer TsVM-101, new digital onboard telemetry system (MBITS)|
702|TMA-02M|27S|Jun 6, 2011|Upgrade to EFIR device (electronic former of propellant consumption pulses)|
703|TMA-03M|29S|Dec 21, 2011|New solar arrays with better filling of surface with photovoltaic elements with better KPI; Increase of capacity of the buffer batteries from 350 A*h to 425 A*h|In orbit now
704|-|-|not flown|Replacement of SMI-4 lights by SFOK LED headlight; Additional meteorite shielding on the Orbital Module.|Descent module broken during pressurization testing
705|TMA-04M|30S|May 15, 2012|Replacement of Descent Module's system Rassvet-M by Rassvet-3BM. This new system will work after landing by determination of the touchdown point's coordinates by the built-in GPS/GLONASS receiver and transmit the coordinates to MCC-M via Kospas/SARSAT beacon|Combines DM from the original #705 and OM&SM from the original #704
708|(TBD)|(TBD)|Spring 2013|The docking node will have additional latching electric motors for better hard docking|
710|(TBD)|(TBD)|Fall 2013|Replacement of Kvant-V control and comms equipment by a new system capable of remote controlling the craft via Luch relay system
711|(TBD)|(TBD)|Fall 2013|Different placement of DPO motors; replacement of orbit radio tracking system by ASN-K satellite navigation system; replacement of docking system Kurs-A by enhanced Kurs-NA; replacement of VSK-4 optical sight by TV system with the pilot's display.

I heard that there's another new variant of Soyuz - the Soyuz-MS coming up in 2015 or so (along with Progress-MS in 2014). What's new on them?

 

[SiberianTiger]

I heard that there's another new variant of Soyuz - the Soyuz-MS coming up in 2015 or so (along with Progress-MS in 2014). What's new on them?

It's not too clear, as Enegria is keeping low profile. But having gathered some information, it may be possible that it will include:

• All the above listed improvements.
• Ability to dock on 2nd or 3rd orbit after launch and outside of Russian ground stations' reach (all the navigation and flight logic embedded).
• Heavier orbital module for delivery of bigger cargos (probably like on a pic below, but it might not be relevant).
• Launched on Soyuz-2.1a

 

[SiberianTiger]

Crew training and launch campaign pictures

April, Evgeny Tarelkin (from the back-up crew) holds an exam on malfuction of smoke detector:

Astronaut Joe Acaba in Zvezda Mock-Up:

The primary crewmen are preparing to take event simulation test cards for their final qualification test.

May 2nd, arrival at windy Baikonur:

A ceremony (the backups)

May 6, encapsulation of Soyuz:

The crew at the door of their Soyuz:

Trees planting

Subscribing the poster

May 12, attaching the escape tower

The rocket is assembled

Yesterday, rolling out and erection

 

[SiberianTiger]

Mission video highlights

 

[N_Molson]

A little more than 6 hours to go. It's 22:50 PM there, is anyone in Europe going to wait for the launch (it should be around 5:00 AM) ? I'll do, anyway I have some work in late to do.

Go Soyuz !

 

[Rareth]

oooh its on NASA TV tonight, good thing I have directv.. I get that channel:thumbup:

 

[Ripley]

...is anyone in Europe going to wait for the launch (it should be around 5:00 AM) ?...

If I wake up for the usual "nightly WC stroll" I'll give it a shot, but I'm too tired to stay up the whole night.
Thank Probe we've got Youtube!

 

[N_Molson]

3 hours to go...

 

[Eccentrus]

2 hours until airing in NASA TV and I have to go to lecture by then

 

[N_Molson]

Still holding on... 1 hour and 30 minutes to go !

 

[Codz]

NASA coverage about to start...

---------- Post added at 02:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 AM ----------

Coverage started.

---------- Post added at 02:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:01 AM ----------

Crew suit up being shown.

 

[N_Molson]

t-27 minutes. The rocket is sitting on the steppe, all ready for liftoff.

 

[orb]

An article by Orbinaut Pete -
NASASpaceflight: Soyuz TMA-04M set to launch three new crewmembers for busy mission to ISS


Florida Today: Acaba set for launch to ISS


Spaceflight Now: Mission Status Center


Roscosmos:

(Source)​

 

[Codz]

The commander's experiance is impressive.

 

[N_Molson]

Yes, he is quite the arch-type of the veteran cosmonaut hero !

---------- Post added at 02:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:42 AM ----------

The dawn lighting is very beautiful. :thumbup:

 

[Codz]

Great interior shot.