Now 30 minutes until docking, NASA TV coverage has started.
From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 17/06/2010:
After the Soyuz docking at the SM Aft port, crew activities will include:
. CDR Alexander Skvortsov switching hatch KVDs (Pressure Equalization Valves/PEVs) between SM & Soyuz back to electric control mode.
. FE-3 Kornienko downlinking the TEKh-15/DAKON-M IZGIB ("Bend") structural dynamics measurements and close out the data take.
. The CDR reconfiguring station comm (STTS) for the nominal post-docking hardline mode (MBS).
. Skvortsov supportin
g Elektron O2 (Oxygen) generator reactivation by TsUP-Moscow by throwing a switch and monitoring the external temperature of its secondary purification unit (BD) for the first 10 minutes of operations to ensure that there was no overheating.
After clamp installation (with thrusters disabled from 12:10 AM to 2:23 AM GMT Fri. 18/06) and leak checking (12:10 AM to 1:25 AM GMT), hatch opening is expected to take place at about 1:25 AM GMT.
The newcomers, FE-4 Doug "Wheels" Wheelock, FE-5 Fyodor Yurchikhin & FE-6 Shannon Walker, will then join CDR Skvortsov, FE-3 Kornienko & FE-2 Caldwell-Dyson for the obligatory ISS Safety Briefing, to familiarize them with procedures and escape routes in case of an emergency.
Other pre-sleeptime activities by the (now six) crewmembers will include:
. Doug Wheelock preparing his CQ (Crew Quarters) in the Node 2 Starboard 5 location (e.g., inspection, cleaning as required, retrieving clothing & sleeping bag CTBs (Cargo Transfer Bags), installing sleeping bag on wall, setting up personal effects, etc.).
. Fyodor Yurchikhin deactivating his docked Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft.
. Wheelock & Walker donning their Actiwatches to join Caldwell-Dyson in the SLEEP experiment.
. Fyodor Yurchikhin setting up the three Sokol spacesuits and their gloves for drying out.
---------- Post added at 11:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 PM ----------
Soyuz TMA-19 is now docked to SM Aft! :thumbup:
Hatch opening will be at 9:25 PM EDT Thu./1:25 AM GMT Fri.
---------- Post added at 01:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 PM ----------
Hatch opening coverage has started on NASA TV.
---------- Post added at 02:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 AM ----------
The hatches were opened at 8:52 PM EDT Thu./12:52 AM GMT Fri.
---------- Post added at 02:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 AM ----------
The Soyuz TMA-19 crew are now aboard the ISS. The station is back to a 6 person crew - the first ever long-duration crew to include 2 women!
---------- Post added at 02:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------
Here's the NASA TV docking & hatch opening video.
Spaceflight Now: "International Space Station welcomes new residents".
---------- Post added at 10:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:05 PM ----------
From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 18/06/2010:
Soyuz TMA-19/23S docked successfully to the SM (Service Module) "Zvezda" Aft port yesterday evening at 10:21 PM GMT, 4 minutes ahead of schedule. After about 2 hours 30 minutes spent in the Soyuz on pre-transfer activities, the hatches were opened at 12:52 AM Fri. 18/06 and the crew transferred to the ISS. This was followed by the installation of the BZV QD (Quick Disconnect) clamps of the docking & internal transfer mechanism (SSVP) by CDR Skvortsov to rigidize the joint.
[The Soyuz TV system was activated at ~9:45 PM GMT and final approach on automatic KURS pilot began at ~10:12 PM GMT. Shortly after "kasaniya" (contact), automatic "sborka" (closing of Soyuz & SM Aft port hooks & latches) took place at 10:31 PM GMT with ISS in free drift. Attitude control authority had been handed over to the Russian MCS (Motion Control System) thrusters at ~6:50 PM GMT and returned to US CMG (Control Moment Gyroscope) control at ~11:20 PM GMT. For the docking, Russian thrusters were disabled (11:20 PM to 12:20 AM GMT) during Soyuz volume pressurization & clamp installation and afterwards returned to active attitude control. Before hatch opening, the crew performed leak checks of the Soyuz modules and the Soyuz/SM interface vestibule. The Soyuz TMA-19 crew then doffed their Sokol suits, and Yurchikhin set suits and gloves up for drying. Yurchikhin also deactivated the BOA/Atmosphere Purification Unit in the SA/Descent Module, replaced the Soyuz ECLSS (Environmental Control & Life Support System) LiOH cartridges, equalized Soyuz/ISS pressures, and put the spacecraft into conservation mode on ISS integrated power. Note: Prior to the rendezvous the Soyuz crew reported several discrepancies that occurred with the Neptune display panel, including erroneously illuminated command selection frames on KSP formats, slight differences in times between MCS (Motion Control System) display and InPU (Integrated Control Panel) displays, display characters being partially cut off at the top of the display, and erratic display performance plus subsequent automatic reset following sensor calibration. Specialists will be reviewing these discrepancies.]
Following the safety briefing, FE-4 Wheelock & FE-6 Walker prepared their CQs (Crew Quarters), Doug in the Node 2 Starboard 5 location and Shannon in the JPM Deck 3 location.
CQ locations for the other four crewmembers are:
. CDR Alexander = SM Port.
. FE-2 Tracy = Node 2 Port 5.
. FE-3 Mikhail = Node 2 Overhead 5.
. FE-5 Fyodor = SM Starboard.
Since Wheelock’s & Walker’s CQ have no ATU (Audio Terminal Unit), Doug & Shannon need to be alerted by a crewmate in case of a CW (Caution/Warning) event when asleep.
Before "calling it a day", Wheelock & Walker put on their Actiwatches to join Caldwell-Dyson in the post-wakeup experiment SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy & Light Exposure during Spaceflight), their first. [To monitor his/her sleep/wake patterns and light exposure, the crewmember wears a special Actiwatch device which measures the light levels encountered by him/her as well as their patterns of sleep and activity throughout the Expedition, using the payload software for data logging and filling in questionnaire entries in the experiment’s laptop session file on the HRF-1 (Human Research Facility-1) laptop. The log entries are done within 15 minutes of final awakening for seven consecutive days.]
---------- Post added at 10:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 PM ----------
A fantastic additional launch photo from the
NASA HQ Photo Flickr page.
Hi-res version.
-----
collectSPACE: "Amelia Earhart's watch arrives at the space station on anniversary of Atlantic crossing".
