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Soyuz TMA-22 performs safe Landing to bring its Crew Home
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April 27, 2012
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The Soyuz TMA-22 Spacecraft has conducted a successful Undocking from the International Space Station on Friday, April 21 setting the stage for its descent and landing sequence - bringing home three Space Station Crewmembers after their long duration Space Flight.
Final Undocking preparations started yesterday for the three Soyuz TMA-22 Crewmembers, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineers Anatoly Ivanishin and Dan Burbank. The entire ISS Crew had to adjust their sleep cycles in order to support the Undocking Operation. Before closing hatches, final time-critical experiments and samples were loaded into the Descent Module of the Soyuz Spacecraft for return to Earth and post-flight analysis. Also, no longer needed items were stowed inside the Orbital Module for disposal via destructive Re-Entry. Later, all Crew Members floated to their respective sides of the Soyuz Hatch and said their final Goodbyes before starting Hatch Closure operations. Hatches between the Station and the Soyuz Capsule were closed at 5:12 GMT and the nominal 1-hour leak check began. |
Photo: NASA (File image)
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Soyuz Systems checkouts and leak checks were normal indicating that all Systems aboard the Spacecraft were ready for its brief period of free flight and re-entry. Inside the Soyuz, the three crew members donned their Sokol Launch and Entry Suits and strapped themselves into their Seats. To set the stage for physical separation, the Space Station maneuvered to the Proper Undocking Orientation and the Undocking Command was sent by Soyuz Computer starting to drive hooks in order to break the Hard-Mate between Station and Soyuz that was formed after docking in November 2011. Physical Separation occurred on time at 8:18:24 GMT and the TMA-22 Vehicle departed that Space Station. This is the final TMA Vehicle to fly to ISS since all upcoming Soyuz Mission will use the improved TMA-M Version of the Spacecraft that features an improved digital control system. After separation, the Soyuz Capsule slowly drifted away from the Station providing a good looks at the Russian Segment of ISS with the docked Automated Transfer Vehicle 3. Once reaching a distance of 20 meters, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov initiated a 15-second Separation Burn to increase the opening rate and the Soyuz rapidly departed the vicinity of the Space Station that maneuvered to its nominal attitude several minutes later.
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Photo: NASA/ESA
Starting a 2-hour free flight, the Soyuz retreated to a point 19 Kilometers from ISS to start Entry Operations. The Soyuz ignited its Engines one last time at 10:49 GMT to perform its Deorbit Burn. The Burn was 4 Minutes and 18 Seconds in duration and slowed the velocity of the Soyuz by 115.2 Meters per Second placing it on the planned Re-Entry Trajectory. Just before experiencing the first traces of the dense atmosphere, the three Modules of the Soyuz Vehicle separated at an altitude of 140 Kilometers - placing the Orbital Module and Instrumentation Section of the spacecraft on a course to destructive re-entry burning up in the Atmosphere.
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Protected by its heat shield, the Entry Module maneuvered to the correct orientation to dive into the atmosphere. 7 Minutes after hitting the atmosphere, the Stress on the Vehicle and its crew reached its maximum. "Sensation of G-load pressure on the body, heaviness of the body, labored breathing and speech. These are normal sensations, and the advice is to "take them coolly". In case of the feeling of a lump in the throat, this is no cause to "be nervous". This is frequent and should not be fought. Crew should check vision and, if any disturbances occur, create additional tension of abdominal pressure and leg muscles, in addition to the Kentavr anti-G suit," a NASA/Roscosmos description of what the crew experiences at that point in the flight said. 14 Minutes before the planned Touchdown time, at 11:31 GMT, the Parachute Opening command was sent by Soyuz Computers and the Pilot Chute, followed by the Drogue Chute, opened - slowing the vehicle down to 79.6 Meters per Second on its descent to Earth.
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Credit: NASA TV
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Later, the main chute opened and the vehicle slowed down further. As the Vehicle descended, airplanes provided the communication link with Mission Control Moscow and recovery forces tracking the vehicle to get to its landing point as fast as possible. During re-entry, communications were relayed by the Space Station orbiting above the Vehicle. Far that, ISS made a small maneuver to provide favorable communication angles, but due to the increased altitude of the Station, communication signals were not as strong as normally, so that communications during entry were limited. As the capsule slowly descended under its main parachute, the heat shield was jettisoned exposing the altimeter instrument to provide altitude and rate of descent data. Also, residual propellant inside the vehicle's tanks was dumped. Moments before landing the seat liners inside the Soyuz moved into the landing position to absorb a portion of the Impact Load. Also, the Soyuz fired its six Landing Engines about 2 seconds prior to touchdown to slow the vehicle down to its appropriate landing speed of 9.9 meters per second. Landing occurred 87 Kilometers north of Arkalyk at the Steppes of Kazakhstan in perfect weather conditions. The Soyuz Spacecraft landed on its side. Total Mission duration of the TMA-22 Flight was 165 Days, 7 Hours and 31 Minutes.
Recovery Forces were quick to arrive at the Landing Site where they immediately began to extract the three crew members from the Soyuz Capsule. A medical tent was set up near the landed vehicle. After being extracted, the three former ISS Residents were placed in special reclining chairs to allow them to re-adept to Earth's Gravity. All crew members seemed to be in good health and happy to be back home after spending 165 days in space and concluding their busy 163-day ISS Mission. During the Change of Command Ceremony on Wednesday, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank said, "Smelling the aromas of planet Earth, landing on the Kazakh steppe in our Soyuz and just climbing out of the hatch and feeling fresh air on our face will be wonderful, There's a lot of food that I can't have up here that I would very much like to have, that'll also be a good consolation prize. It'll be so wonderful to see my family again. You get to see your family once a week, you get to talk to them on the phone every time you get a chance, maybe once or twice a day even. But it's not the same as being there. So leaving this place [the Space Station] will be hard, seeing my family again will be the most wonderful consolation prize you can imagine."
Recovery Forces were quick to arrive at the Landing Site where they immediately began to extract the three crew members from the Soyuz Capsule. A medical tent was set up near the landed vehicle. After being extracted, the three former ISS Residents were placed in special reclining chairs to allow them to re-adept to Earth's Gravity. All crew members seemed to be in good health and happy to be back home after spending 165 days in space and concluding their busy 163-day ISS Mission. During the Change of Command Ceremony on Wednesday, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank said, "Smelling the aromas of planet Earth, landing on the Kazakh steppe in our Soyuz and just climbing out of the hatch and feeling fresh air on our face will be wonderful, There's a lot of food that I can't have up here that I would very much like to have, that'll also be a good consolation prize. It'll be so wonderful to see my family again. You get to see your family once a week, you get to talk to them on the phone every time you get a chance, maybe once or twice a day even. But it's not the same as being there. So leaving this place [the Space Station] will be hard, seeing my family again will be the most wonderful consolation prize you can imagine."
Lading Video
After spending a few minutes under the clear Kazakh sky, the crew members were transported to the medical tent for initial medical exams. About 2 hours after landing, they will depart the landing site for Kustanai in northern Kazakhstan. There, they will part ways for the first time in six months. Shkaplerov and Ivanishin will board a plane back to Star City for post-flight operations and recovery while Dan Burbank will fly back to Houston for his post-flight procedures.
Photo Gallery: Soyuz TMA-22 Landing
This successful Undocking and Landing of the Soyuz Vehicle also marked the end of International Space Station Expedition 30 and the start of Station Increment 31 that begins with a crew of three until the Soyuz TMA-04M Spacecraft is launched on May 15 and arrives at the Space Station on May 17 delivering Gennady Padalka, Joe Acaba and Sergei Revin to ISS for their long duration mission. For full coverage and extensive background Information, please visit our Expedition 31 Section.
Welcome Ceremony and Interview with Dan Burbank
Soyuz TMA-22 & Crew ready for Undocking and Landing
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April 25, 2012
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The Soyuz
TMA-22 Spacecraft and its crew are getting ready for Undocking and Landing
after being docked to the International Space Station since November 15, 2011.
Aboard the complex, the Soyuz TMA-22 Crew, Dan Burbank, Anatoly Ivanishin and Anton Shkaplerov, have completed landing preparations as well as cargo operations for the return trip to Earth. Several science payloads and equipment was placed aboard the Entry Module for return to Earth and post-flight analysis. The science equipment includes samples taken from ISS Air and Water supply as well as experiment samples that are part of ongoing ISS Science Studies. Time-Critical Payloads will be loaded just before hatch closure. The Orbital Module of the Soyuz Spacecraft was loaded with trash and no-longer-needed items for disposal via destructive re-entry. Also, final preparations for the brief period of free flight were made inside the Entry Module of the Soyuz Spacecraft. Anton Shkaplerov removed and replaced a fan box inside the KhSA Cooler/Dehumidifier Assembly in the Soyuz TMA-22 Spacecraft to make sure it is ready to support its crew of three during Free Flight and Entry. The entire Soyuz TMA-22 Crew performed the standard leak checks of their Sokol Suits that will be worn during entry and landing. Anatoly Ivanishin’s Kazbek-UM couch seat liner had to be modified and fit checks were repeated to make sure all clearances were as required. The crew completed other minor activities to get the Spacecraft ready for operations over the course of the last two weeks. On Wednesday, April 25, the International Space Station Crew performed the traditional Change of Command Ceremony during which Command of the Station was handed from Dan Burbank to Oleg Kononenko who will be the Commander of Expedition 31. The official end of Expedition 30 comes with the Touchdown of the Soyuz Spacecraft. On Friday, hatches between the Space Station and the Soyuz will be closed and Soyuz Activation and testing will get underway.Undocking is set for Friday at 8:19 GMT. The TMA-22 Spacecraft will depart the vicinity of ISS making a series of Separation Burns. |
Photo: NASA
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At that time, the Crew will be
strapped into their seats getting ready for Re-Entry two Orbits after undocking.
About 55 Minutes before Landing, the Soyuz Capsule will fire its engines to
conduct its Deorbit Burn. After the Burn, just before hitting the atmosphere,
the Soyuz Capsule’s Modules will separate and send the Entry Module on a safe
journey back to Earth while the other two modules, the Orbital Module and the
Instrumentation Module, burn up in the Atmosphere. Landing at the Steppes of
Kazakhstan is planned to occur at 11:45 GMT. Recovery forces will immediately
start post-landing operations to extract the crew that will have completed
their long duration Space Mission at that point.
Undocking & Landing Timeline
| GMT | Undock +/- | Landing +/- | Event | |
| Soyuz Loading Complete | ||||
| Communication Reconfiguration for Undock | ||||
| Comm Checks | ||||
| Soyuz Activation | ||||
| 05:18:30 | -03:00:00 | -6:26:30 | Hatch Closure | |
| 07:25:30 | -00:52:00 | -4:19:30 | ISS hands to RS Control | |
| 07:34:30 | -00:44:00 | -4:10:30 | ISS Maneuver to Undocking Attitude | |
| 07:40:00 | -00:38:30 | -4:05:00 | Orbital Sunrise | |
| 08:14:30 | -00:04:00 | -3:30:30 | ISS Control to Free Drift Mode | |
| 08:15:30 | -00:03:00 | -3:29:30 | Command Undocking Sequence | |
| 08:18:30 | 00:00:00 | -3:26:30 | Physical Separation | |
| 08:24:30 | 00:06.00 | -3:20:30 | Range: 20 Meters; Sep. Burn #1 | |
| 08:27:30 | +00:09:00 | -3:17:30 | ISS Reorientation | |
| 08:37:22 | +00:18:52 | -3:07:38 | Orbital Sunset | |
| 09:11:30 | +00:53:00 | -2:33:30 | ISS Handover to US Control | |
| 10:49:37 | +01:31:07 | -0:55:23 | Deorbit Burn (Duration: 4:18) dV: 115.2m/s | |
| 11:18:07 | +02:59:37 | -0:26:53 | Module Separation; Altitude: 140km | |
| 11:21:28 | +03:02:58 | -0:23:32 | Entry Interface @ 400,000feet | |
| 11:23:24 | +03:04:54 | -0:21:36 | Entry Guidance enabled | |
| 11:28:51 | +03:10:21 | -0:16:09 | Max Stress on the Vehicle | |
| 11:30:51 | +03:12:21 | -0:14:09 | Parachute Opening Command | |
| 11:44:58 | +03:26:28 | -0:00:02 | Soft Landing Engine Ignition | |
| 11:45:00 | +03:26:30 | 00:00:00 | TOUCHDOWN | |
| 13:45:00 | +05:26:00 | ~+02:00:00 | Crew departs Landing Site |
Landing Site
Image: Google Earth
Prime Landing Site: 51deg01min N, 67deg 10min E -- 87 Kilometers North of Arkalyk
Soyuz TMA-22 successfully docks with ISS
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November 15, 2011
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Three new
Residents have arrived at the International Space Station. The Soyuz TMA-22
Spacecraft has successfully docked to the Poisk Module of the Station on time
at 12:24am EST Wednesday night. Docking was completed in automated mode with Soyuz
Commander Anton Shkaplerov being ready to take over control of the vehicle in
case of a problem. Docking actually occurred ahead othe timeline as Flyaround
and Alignment with the Poisk Module were completed without any issues and a GO
to start the final approach was given 9 Minutes ahead of schedule setting the
stage for an early docking. Final Approach was nominal.
Operations to retract the Docking Probe and close hooks and latches to form a hard mate between the two docking interfaces have been completed as expected.
Hatch opening is set for about 3am EST tonight to welcome the TMA-22 crew on ISS. Leak Checks will get underway before that to make sure a tight seal has been formed around the docking port and the Soyuz.
After launching late on Sunday, the Capsule was in its free flight phase. All operations including communications and engine burns to link up with the orbiting outpost were nominal. Aboard the Soyuz are Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoly Ivanishin – both Russian Cosmonauts – and NASA’s Dan Burbank. The Expedition 29/30 Crewmembers will stay aboard ISS for 122 Days before undocking and returning to Earth. This docking also kicks off a very short period of handover activities starting with a safety briefing later tonight. Due to the Soyuz Launch Delays because of the August 24 Soyuz Rocket Failure, Handover Time has been shortened. Preparations were made to accommodate this shorter timeframe. The arriving crew had several Video Conferences with the current crew to complete some handover operations prior to arrival of the new crewmembers. Soyuz TMA-02M will undock and land on November 21. Six-Crew Operations will re-start later in Expedition 30 when Soyuz TMA-03M docks to ISS on December 23, 2011 [Date Tentative].
Today’s Docking marked the first docking of a manned spacecraft with ISS after the Space Shuttle retired. It also marked the final docking of the TMA variant of the Soyuz Spacecraft, future planned dockings will be performed by TMA-M Vehicles.
Operations to retract the Docking Probe and close hooks and latches to form a hard mate between the two docking interfaces have been completed as expected.
Hatch opening is set for about 3am EST tonight to welcome the TMA-22 crew on ISS. Leak Checks will get underway before that to make sure a tight seal has been formed around the docking port and the Soyuz.
After launching late on Sunday, the Capsule was in its free flight phase. All operations including communications and engine burns to link up with the orbiting outpost were nominal. Aboard the Soyuz are Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoly Ivanishin – both Russian Cosmonauts – and NASA’s Dan Burbank. The Expedition 29/30 Crewmembers will stay aboard ISS for 122 Days before undocking and returning to Earth. This docking also kicks off a very short period of handover activities starting with a safety briefing later tonight. Due to the Soyuz Launch Delays because of the August 24 Soyuz Rocket Failure, Handover Time has been shortened. Preparations were made to accommodate this shorter timeframe. The arriving crew had several Video Conferences with the current crew to complete some handover operations prior to arrival of the new crewmembers. Soyuz TMA-02M will undock and land on November 21. Six-Crew Operations will re-start later in Expedition 30 when Soyuz TMA-03M docks to ISS on December 23, 2011 [Date Tentative].
Today’s Docking marked the first docking of a manned spacecraft with ISS after the Space Shuttle retired. It also marked the final docking of the TMA variant of the Soyuz Spacecraft, future planned dockings will be performed by TMA-M Vehicles.
Docking Video
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TMA-22 on Track for an On-Time Docking Tonight
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November 15, 2011
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The Crew of
the International Space Station is awaiting the Docking of their fellow
Crewmembers that is set for tonight. After launching late on Sunday, the Soyuz TMA-22
has completed three Rendezvous Burns to link up with ISS. Those Maneuvers were
completed as expected.
To accommodate tonight’s docking which is set to occur at 12:33am EST, the Crew of the ISS had a shortened work day with operations from 1am to 11am EST. The three ISS residents will get up at 8pm EST today to prepare for the arrival of the other half of the Expedition 29 Crew. Everything is on track for an on-time docking, all systems on the ISS and the Soyuz side are working normally. Aboard ISS, nominal operations have been completed today. Sergei Volkov got started with Docking Preparations that included preparations for a test of the MRM2 (Mini Research Module 2) ASP (Passive Docking Assembly) that will take place right after docking. He also set up equipment needed for Soyuz Offload that will include time-critical experiment payloads. Satoshi Furukawa printed out a 'Welcome Message’ for the three new crewmembers and placed them in the respective Crew Quarters. These messages include information on the use of private computers, internet connection capabilties, private data management and downlink. Furukawa also closed the Shutters of the windows on the Japanese Kibo Module in preparation for 28S arrival. Other activities were standard ISS Maintenance Operations and Science Payload Monitoring. Also, the current crew of Exp 28 and 29 is preparing to come back to Earth. For that, each of the Astronauts has some time on their respective schedule to perform personal return preparations. |
Docking Timeline
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Soyuz TMA-22 in Orbit after successful Launch
Photo Gallery: Soyuz Launch Day Operations
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November 13, 2011
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The Soyuz TMA-22 Vehicle has successsfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 11:14pm EST on Sunday November 13, 2011. It was early Monday morning at the spaceport when the vehicle emerged from a heavy snow storm at the launch site.
Countdown operations were normal and on schedule. Fueling began on time and the crew of three boarded their vehicle two and a half hours prior to launch after reporting to the State Commission and receiving the traditional blessings from a Russian Priest. Terminal Countdown was uneventful as well and the vehicle lifted off as planned at 11:14:03pm EST, 10:14am local time. The Rocket was barely visible as a snow storm was moving over the launch complex bringing more than half a foot of snow. The Soyuz Launch Vehicle can Lift-Off under a variety of weather conditions and is known to be capable of handling these harsh conditions.
Flight Performance was normal. The third stage was the main focus today as this was the first manned flight since the August 24 Soyuz Failure on the Progress M-12M Mission. The RD-0110 Engine performed flawlessly and the Spacecraft was put into orbit. Solar Array and Communication Antenna deployment was confirmed shortly afterwards and a successful orbital insertion was complete. The crew of Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin is in good condition after their on-time launch. On tap for the Vehicle are three large Rendevous Burns coming up over the course of the next 48 hours to set the stage for a docking on Wednesday at 12:33am EST to restore the ISS Crew to six for a brief amount of time.
Today’s launch marked the final flight of a Soyuz TMA Capsule. Future Missions will be flown by TMA-M Spacecraft – the newer digital Soyuz Capsules.It also marked the first time humans were launched into space after the Retirement of the Space Shuttle earlier this year.
Countdown operations were normal and on schedule. Fueling began on time and the crew of three boarded their vehicle two and a half hours prior to launch after reporting to the State Commission and receiving the traditional blessings from a Russian Priest. Terminal Countdown was uneventful as well and the vehicle lifted off as planned at 11:14:03pm EST, 10:14am local time. The Rocket was barely visible as a snow storm was moving over the launch complex bringing more than half a foot of snow. The Soyuz Launch Vehicle can Lift-Off under a variety of weather conditions and is known to be capable of handling these harsh conditions.
Flight Performance was normal. The third stage was the main focus today as this was the first manned flight since the August 24 Soyuz Failure on the Progress M-12M Mission. The RD-0110 Engine performed flawlessly and the Spacecraft was put into orbit. Solar Array and Communication Antenna deployment was confirmed shortly afterwards and a successful orbital insertion was complete. The crew of Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin is in good condition after their on-time launch. On tap for the Vehicle are three large Rendevous Burns coming up over the course of the next 48 hours to set the stage for a docking on Wednesday at 12:33am EST to restore the ISS Crew to six for a brief amount of time.
Today’s launch marked the final flight of a Soyuz TMA Capsule. Future Missions will be flown by TMA-M Spacecraft – the newer digital Soyuz Capsules.It also marked the first time humans were launched into space after the Retirement of the Space Shuttle earlier this year.
Countdown Operations Underway
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November 13, 2011
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Countdown Operations have started at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for the final Launch of a Soyuz TMA Vehicle to the ISS. No technical problems have been reported up to this point in the launch preparations flow. The State Commission has geiven a GO for the Launch and the Crew has started their launch day as well. They are scheduled to arrive at the Launch Complex about 5 hours before launch to start putting on their Suits. Fueling will begin at the T-5 Hour Mark. Crew ingress operations get underway about 2.5 hours prior to launch. Numerous vehicle reconfigurations and checks will follow before the final countdown sequence begins 6 minutes prior to liftoff. Launch is set for 11:14pm EST.
Soyuz Rocket ready for Launch
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November 12, 2011
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The Souz Rocket that will launch the Expedition 29/30 Crew to the International Space Station has been rolled out to the Launch Pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
Pre-Flight Processing and Launch Vehicle Integration were completed on schedule and without any problems. Launch Pad Operations are now underway as part of nominal launch operations. The final countdown for liftoff will begin about six and a half hours before launch. The three Crewmembers of the Expedition 29/30 crew are NASA's Dan Burbank and Russia's Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin. Full Crew Biographies can be found on our Expedition 29 Crew Info Page. The Rocket is scheduled to lift off on Sunday at 11:14pm EST and bring the Soyuz Capsule into orbit. After two days of free-flight, Soyuz TMA-22 is planned to Rendezvous and dock with ISS on Wednesday at 12:45am EST kicking off a brief time of handover activities between the Expedition 28/29 crew and the three new |
Photo: Energia
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crewmembers before the Soyuz TMA-2M undocks and lands on November 21.
This launch will be the first manned mission of the Soyuz-FG Rocket after the August 24 Failure of a similar Launcher, the Soyuz-U. Because of a contamination issue on the third stage, the Rocket shut down prematurely and crash-landed about 1,000 miles from the launch site. The Launch Vehicle successfully returned to Flight two weeks ago when the Progress M-13M Spacecraft was sent to ISS to resupply the Station after the cause of the problem was identified and corrective measures were taken.
This launch will be the first manned mission of the Soyuz-FG Rocket after the August 24 Failure of a similar Launcher, the Soyuz-U. Because of a contamination issue on the third stage, the Rocket shut down prematurely and crash-landed about 1,000 miles from the launch site. The Launch Vehicle successfully returned to Flight two weeks ago when the Progress M-13M Spacecraft was sent to ISS to resupply the Station after the cause of the problem was identified and corrective measures were taken.
