Space and Space Travel News

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On the Net:
Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kasaksthan: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur.html • Photos

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- Sep 27, 2007: The primary and backup crews of the ISS Expedition 16 and Taxi Mission 13 have entered into their final training phase in the processing facility. Peggy Annette Whitson (NASA, USA), Yuri Ivanovich Malenchenko (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia) and Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie (Malaysia) have inspected the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft, tried on Sokol-KV spacesuits and customized contoured couches, went through the on-board documentation and the launch manifest, checked their radio communications equipment, as well as conducted a training session for scientific experiments. Credit: RSC Energia (more)




- Sep 30, 2007: Soyuz TMA-11 transport manned vehicle fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations. Credit: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia


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- Oct 3, 2007: Designers' final inspections of the Soyuz TMA-11 are completed. Credit: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia







- Oct 5, 2006: Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing the Soyuz TMA-11 manned spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with the Launch Vehicle. Credit: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia













- Oct 3, 2007: The payload shroud is rolled onto the Soyuz TMA-11

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- Oct 7, 2007: In the LV Integration and Checkout Facility, the basic integration of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the upper composite has been completed. Credit: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

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Photos

- Oct 8, 2007: Rollout of the Soyuz spacecraft from the assembly-test facility to the launch site. Credit: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

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- Oct 8, 2007: Rollout of the Soyuz spacecraft from the assembly-test facility to the launch site. Credit: S.P.Korolev RSC Energia





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• Photos: Expedition 15 crew

- Oct 10, 2007: NASA astronaut Peggy A. Whitson (center), Expedition 16 commander; cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko (front), Soyuz commander and flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; and Malaysian spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor wave farewell at the steps of the Soyuz rocket. The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at sunset Oct. 10, 2007 in their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft bound for a docking to the ISS on Oct. 12. (more) / 2 / 3


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- The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft launches on time from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at Oct. 10, 2007.

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- Oct 16, 2007: The crewmembers onboard the ISS pose for a group photo in the Destiny laboratory of the Space Station. (more)




- Oct 12: Astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, is pictured during her first hours aboard the International Space Station talking with Russia's Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, Expedition 15 commander. Whitson served a six-month tour of duty on the space station as flight engineer several years ago. Credit: NASA (more)

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- Dec 20, 2007 -- Baikonur launch site: The orbital module was integrated with the Soyuz-U launch vehicle in the processing facility. Credit: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia




- Dec 23, 2007: In accordance with the mission plan of the International Space Station (ISS) and Russian commitments under the ISS project, cargo transportation spacecraft Progress M-62 was launched from Baikonur launch site at 10:12:41 Moscow Time. The objective of the launch is to deliver to ISS more than 2.4 tons of various cargoes that are needed to support the operation of the space station in manned mode and provide living and working conditions for the crew. Sent from the ground to the orbit were supplies of oxygen, water and food, propellants, consumables, scientific instrumentation and equipment. The spacecraft was put into a parking orbit with the following parameters: 51.65° inclination, 193.63 km minimal altitude, 251.56 km maximum altitude, 88.65 minutes orbital period. The onboard systems of the spacecraft operate as designed. Continued...

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- Dec 25, 2007: The Expedition 16 crewmembers pose for a Christmas photo in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. From the left are cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko, flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; NASA astronauts Peggy A. Whitson, commander; and Daniel Tani, flight engineer. Credit: NASA

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- A Progress approaches the International Space Station. Sent from the ground to the orbit were supplies of oxygen, water and food, propellants, consumables, scientific instrumentation and equipment. Credit: NASA (more)

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Nov 24, 2007: Astronaut Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, participates in a session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction continues on the International Space Station. During the 7-hour, 4-minute spacewalk Whitson and astronaut Daniel Tani (out of frame), flight engineer, continued the external outfitting of the Harmony node in its new position in front of the Destiny laboratory. Credit: NASA




- Astronaut Whitson and astronaut Daniel Tani (out of frame), flight engineer, continued the external outfitting of the Harmony node in its new position in front of the Destiny laboratory. The blackness of space and Earth's horizon provide the backdrop for the scene. Credit: NASA (More Photos)

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- Oct 26, 2007: Astronaut Scott Parazynski is pictured in the shuttle's cargo bay during the first of five scheduled sessions of extravehicular activity to perform work on the ISS while it is visited by the Space Shuttle Discovery. Node 2, also known as Harmony, joined the growing station complex, thanks to the work of the two spacewalkers in conjunction with that of their crewmates who remained in the shirt sleeve environment of the two spacecraft. Credit: NASA

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- Dec 9, 2007: Solar array panels of the International Space Station are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 16 crewmember (out of frame) from a window on the station. The blackness of space and airglow of Earth's horizon provide the backdrop for the scene. Credit: NASA (more)

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Space.gs

Expedition 19 Soyuz TMA-14 rolls out to launch pad at Baikonur.
March 24, 2009




- March 12: U.S. spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi (left), cosmonaut Gennady Padalka (center), Expedition 19 commander, and astronaut Michael Barratt (right), NASA Expedition 19 flight engineer, shake hands after an inspection of their Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft March 12, 2009 in its integration facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio will be launched March 26 on a two-day trip to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov; caption: NASA.


At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Soyuz TMA-14 transport manned vehicle under the International Space Station program. In the LV Integration and Checkout Facility, the basic integration of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the upper composite has been completed.














A rollout of the Soyuz spacecraft from the assembly-test facility to the launch site was provided. The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-14 transport spacecraft was erected on the launch pad. Operations under the launch minus two days program began. A meeting of the Technical management under the chairmanship of RSC Energia President and General Designer V.A. Lopota and State commission was held.














A decision on rollout of the launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-14 transport manned spacecraft to the launch facility and its preparation for launch planned for March 26, 2009 was adopted. The launch of the Soyuz-FG integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft to the ISS Orbital Complex is planned for March 26, 2009 at 14:49 Moscow time.

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- Image credits: S.P. Korolev RSC Energia