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

[N_Molson]

T-9 minutes.

I wouldn't like to be sealed in a Soyuz capsule with a Celine Dion CD jammed into the player. :uhh:

 

[Codz]

I bet they get extra training to withstand it.:lol:

 

[N_Molson]

T-6 minutes. Complete silence then loud russian announces in the base speakers. Its getting serious.

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T-2 minutes. Vents closed.

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Masts are retracting.

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Liftoff !!

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First stages separation.

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Acaba is lucky, he got the window seat !

Everything is normalno.

 

[Codz]

Giving us a wave.

 

[N_Molson]

Stage 2 separation confirmed.

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T+6 min 45 sec. Stage 3 operating nominally.

 

[Codz]

3rd stage seperation.

 

[N_Molson]

Stage 3 burnout and separation. Impressive how the cosmonauts were pushed in their straps !

Separation nominal, SoyuzTMA-04M in orbit. Beginning the activation sequence.

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Crew has begun their orbital activities, checking measurements and copying down data on their paper boards. Everything seems ok.

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Orbital parameters checked. Perfect launch. :thumbup:

Crew allowed to open the helmets.

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Inclination 51.67°, from what I heard.

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OK, that was a very nice one. Time to go to bed ! :thumbup:

 

[Codz]

Congratulations to Roscosmos and NASA for putting another crew into orbit safely.:thumbup:

 

[sorindafabico]

Pretty cool at MECO, when the pencils started to fluctuate.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Soyuz does it again!

Gennady, you've returned too soon - it's like you never even left space! :lol:

 

[orb]

Replay of the launch

Here's calendar event for docking to ISS. You can request a reminder for it here.


Following events timeline:

[table=head]{colsp=4}

MET​

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UTC​

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EDT​

|EVENT

DD​

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HH​

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MM​

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SS​

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HH:MM:SS​

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HH:MM:SS​

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DATE​

{colsp=7}

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2012-05-15​

00  |03  |35  |29  |06:36:52  |02:36:52 a.m.  |DV1 (24.27 m/s)

00|04|17|55|07:19:18|03:19:18 a.m.|DV2 (7.42 m/s)

{colsp=7}

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2012-05-16​

01|01|09|42|04:11:05|12:11:05 a.m.|DV3 (2.00 m/s)

{colsp=7}

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2012-05-17 UTC / 05/16/12 EDT​

01|23|17|23|02:18:46|10:18:46 p.m.|AR&D automated rendezvous start

01|23|38|47|02:40:10|10:40:10 p.m.|AR&D DV4/impulse 1 (34.993 m/s)

02|00|01|54|03:03:17|11:03:17 p.m.|AR&D impulse 2 (1.439 m/s)

02|00|03|37|03:05:00|11:05:00 p.m.|Soyuz Kurs-A activation

02|00|05|37|03:07:00|11:07:00 p.m.|SM Kurs-P activation

02|00|21|03|03:22:26|11:22:26 p.m.|Range = 100 km: Soyuz VHF-2 voice link

02|00|24|52|03:26:15|11:26:15 p.m.|AR&D DV5/impulse 3 (31.827 m/s)

02|00|27|23|03:28:46|11:28:46 p.m.|Range = 80 km: Valid Kurs-P range data

02|00|49|23|03:50:46|11:50:46 p.m.|Range = 15 km: Kurs-A & Kurs-P short test

02|00|57|23|03:58:46|11:58:46 p.m.|Range = 8 km: Soyuz TV activation

{colsp=7}

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2012-05-17​

02|01|07|11|04:08:34|12:08:34 a.m.|AR&D impulse 4 (6.381 m/s)

02|01|07|23|04:08:46|12:08:46 a.m.|AR&D ballistic targeting point

02|01|11|48|04:13:11|12:13:11 a.m.|AR&D impulse 5 (6.494 m/s)

02|01|14|38|04:16:01|12:16:01 a.m.|AR&D impulse 6 (1.657 m/s)

02|01|17|29|04:18:52|12:18:52 a.m.|AR&D flyaround mode start

02|01|23|42|04:25:05|12:25:05 a.m.|AR&D stationkeeping start

02|01|26|37|04:28:00|12:28:00 a.m.|AR&D final approach start

02|01|37|06|04:38:29|12:38:29 a.m.|DOCKING

02|01|51|06|04:52:29|12:52:29 a.m.|Soyuz hooks closed: ISS to dock attitude[/table]​

NASA Press Release: RELEASE : 12-156 - Expedition 31 Trio Blasts Off for International Space Station


SPACE.com:

• New Astronaut Crew Launches Toward Space Station
  
  
• Photos: Space Station's Expedition 31 Mission

RIA Novosti: Soyuz TMA-04M Blasts off toward Space Station


Florida Today:

• Soyuz rocket carrying Acaba blasts off to ISS
  
  
• Ex-Mel High teacher now racing to the space station

Universe Today: Expedition 31 Blasts Off!


Discovery News: Successful Soyuz Launch Sends Three to Space Station


Spaceflight Now: Latest manned space launch safely takes flight to orbit

 

[IronRain]

Video of the launch

 

[SiberianTiger]

A cool official launch video by Roscosmos. :thumbup:

 

[boogabooga]

How many g is the launch? How smooth is the flight?

Those guys look awfully relaxed for being on a launching rocket.

 

[Urwumpe]

How many g is the launch? How smooth is the flight?

Those guys look awfully relaxed for being on a launching rocket.

The first stage flight is said to be pretty smooth, but the second and third stages are a bit rougher.

Peak acceleration is at around 4g (4.25 g at 110 seconds, according to Arianespace), if I remember correctly. Less (vibrations) than the Space Shuttle, but the STS did give the crew a lot more shaking.

 

[Ripley]

For a moment they look kind of..."scared" by that serious bump at separation!!

 

[NovaSilisko]

the STS did give the crew a lot more shaking.

Likely because it used solids, they produce a much rougher ride if I understand correctly.

 

[Urwumpe]

For a moment they look kind of..."scared" by that serious bump at separation!!

I don't know how you would feel if acceleration suddenly drops from 4.25g to 1 g (OK, first from 4.25 to 3.8g and then a gradual decrease by 0.1g while the boosters rotate outside for about 4 seconds). Then suddenly to 1g when the boosters separate)

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Likely because it used solids, they produce a much rougher ride if I understand correctly.

Not only that. The side-mount of the Shuttle causes actually the worst vibrations, since the shockwaves at the transition to supersonic flight (around Max-Q) are trapped between ET and Shuttle.

 

[C3PO]

Peak acceleration is at around 4g (4.25 g at 110 seconds, according to Arianespace), if I remember correctly. Less than the Space Shuttle, but the STS did give the crew a lot more shaking.

Wow! 110 seconds? I didn't realize that the 1'st stage "boosters" packed that much punch. There's still quite a bit of fuel on board. The STS didn't reach max acceleration until just before MECO, when it throttles down to maintain ~3g (IIRC).

 

[FADEC]

Peak acceleration is at around 4g (4.25 g at 110 seconds, according to Arianespace), if I remember correctly. Less than the Space Shuttle,

Wasn't the acceleration on the Shuttle only 3g maximum?

I don't know how you would feel if acceleration suddenly drops from 4.25g to 1 g (OK, first from 4.25 to 3.8g and then a gradual decrease by 0.1g while the boosters rotate outside for about 4 seconds). Then suddenly to 1g when the boosters separate)

Isn't it even 0g? I think Ripley meant the third stage separation at 09:30 in the video.