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News: 2005

Sergei news, articles and sightings for 2005. This is mostly Expedition 11-related as he launched in April and returned in October.

January

17/1

Sergei’s whereabouts, via the ISS Fan Club forum (Kenneth/N5VHO): “Sergei is in Russia right now and due back in Houston later this month (Jan) for his final U.S. training session. After that, it is back to Russia for final preparations for his launch in April.”

February

3/2

Space.com: “Next Space Station Crew Ready for Shuttle’s Return”.

4/2

NASA press release (thanks to Maryam for this!):

NASA announces media briefing & interviews with new Station crew

The next crew of the International Space Station will brief media at 2 p.m. EST, Feb. 3.

The briefing is live on the Web and NASA TV from NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston. Reporters will be able to ask questions from participating NASA centers. Expedition 11 Flight Engineer and NASA Station Science Officer John Phillips and Commander Sergei Krikalyov will discuss their upcoming six-month mission.

The mission is scheduled to launch on a Soyuz spacecraft from Kazakhstan April 15. European Space Agency Astronaut Roberto Vittori will launch aboard the Soyuz and spend about a week onboard as a visiting researcher before returning to Earth with Expedition 10.

Following the news conference, Phillips, Krikalyov and Vittori are available for interviews. To arrange interviews, media should call the JSC at: 281/483-5111 by 1 p.m. EST Feb. 2.

Phillips and Krikalyov will be on the Station when the Space Shuttle Discovery launches this spring, resuming flights following the Columbia accident. Discovery will dock with the Station, bringing supplies and a new gyroscope. The flight will test many new Shuttle safety measures, some of which will involve the Station crew.

NASA TV is available via satellite and on the Web in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, ransponder 9C, C-Band, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7, Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. The news conference will be available live on the Internet at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

5/2

Photos of the press conference are now up in the NASA photo gallery. A preview of the mission patch can be seen on this page at collectSPACE.

7/2

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news release №453 (an approximate Babelfish translation):

07/02/2005/15:47 – Sergei Krikalyov does not believe the ISS is suitable for a refuge

Sergei Krikalyov, one of the most experienced Russian cosmonauts who will take command of the International Space Station this spring, stated that he doubts the that the ISS can be used as a refuge in the case of a Shuttle emergency, reports Lenta.ru (with reference to Associated Press).

In Krikalyov’s opinion, the chances that the shuttle Discovery will be irreparably damaged at takeoff and then be forced to dock with the ISS, while the second shuttle is prepared for the evacuation, are evaluated as minimum.

Nevertheless, the cosmonaut said, since the launch of the Shuttle was assigned for May, any similar possibility must be examined with entire seriousness, and he already discussed this question with NASA management.

The launch of the space shuttle planned for spring will indicate NASA’s return to the flight program of the shuttles, stopped after the catastrophe of 2003. All this time NASA specialists attempted to solve the problem of the flaking of heat insulation from the fuel tank during launch, which led to the shuttle catastrophe in 2003.

If the shuttle is similarly damaged during takeoff, and it is impossible to repair, then the crew of Discovery will be forced to remain on the ISS and to wait until the arrival of the shuttle Atlantis.

In this case the ISS’s inhabitants will total 9 people – 7 shuttle astronauts and 2 people composing the ISS crew (in this case, Sergei Krikalyov and American John Phillips, who will arrive on the ISS during April).

In Krikalyov’s words, this quantity of people at the station will put a serious load on the resources. “One month,” said Krikalyov, “is tolerable. But if this is prolonged more, then problems will arise.”

Russian version, Русская версия: Сергей Крикалев Не Хочет, Чтобы Мкс Использовали Как Убежище.

8/2

“Next Space Station Crew Ready for Shuttle’s Return,” by Tariq Malik at Space.com. From the 3 February press briefing. (Thanks to Pierre for this link!)

16/2

Energiya photo-report: February 16, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz TMA-6 has been delivered to the Baikonur launch site where it will undergo final operations to prepare it for launch.”

17/2

Energiya photo-report: February 17, 2005 Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Assembly-and-test building on site 254 of the Cosmodrome was used to open docking interface of Instrument Compartment, assemble service lines of Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft and ground network, as well as carry out the required scope of checks.”

19/2

Alex Panchenko, who runs the USSR-Russian Aviation & Space Collectibles site, is a friend of Sergei’s; check out the photos on this page at his site from when Sergei visited him this month (in L.A.)! (Alex also mentions my site! :-))

Sergei at Alex Panchenko’s home! Love that snazzy jumpsuit! (Feb. 2005)

25/2

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news release №457:

25/02/2005/12:14 – Spacesuit will become Earth satellite

In orbit an old spacesuit will be soon discarded for scientific purposes, says the website www.km.ru. In this spacesuit they will place equipment, created by the students of the Baumanskogo (Бауманского) university. Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov – the most experienced in the world – and American astronaut John Phillips – also not a novice – conducted training in the “pond” (hydrolab) before their flight to the ISS.

In the pond half of the station is placed freely, and the weightless water substitutes for the weightlessness of space. They learn to work here as they will in open space.

“This is hard work. And to me it is difficult to understand all the technicalities – this, possibly, is the most complex aspect,” acknowledges NASA astronaut John Philips.

Phillips once flew on the Shuttle, but has not visited the station and has not yet done a spacewalk, in contrast to Sergei Krikalyov. For Krikalyov, the forthcoming expedition will be his sixth, and in cosmonautics today there is no person equal to him in experience.

The spacesuit has been thoroughly prepared for the deorbit and spacewalk. Only cosmonauts this make independently, true, at the station helps weightlessness, and on the training – instructors and doctors. This is a real spacesuit for the spacewalk. Together with a man inside it weighs more than two hundred kilograms and for its displacement a crane is necessary. When submerged in water it is almost as weightless as in space.

This is actually similar to space. In contrast to the actual conditions for cosmonauts it only is necessary to overcome resistance of water; therefore the instructors in the underwater equipment help to be moved by it. For an experienced commander such as Sergei, it is important to assess how John will perform in space, and to understand when assistance is necessary. Naturally, he prompts also when training. However, John appeared very involved and acted with intelligence.

Meanwhile into the pond they today immersed one additional empty spacesuit. Instructors pushed it into the docking module. There they left it, and Sergei (with John) took the spacesuit outside. These actions were not completely senseless. The fact is that at the station there is an old spacesuit, in which no one no longer works. And from it was decided to make a satellite. Training. In this spacesuit they will place the scientific gear, created by the students of the Baumanskogo University, and will then leave it in orbit. This they rehearsed today.

Russian version, Русская версия: Скафандр Станет Спутником Земли.

March

2/3

Space Review.com: a mention of Sergei in this article, “Action-reaction in space: the ‘gyrodine war’ heats up”, by James Oberg:

In a pre-flight interview February 3, veteran Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov, commander of the next space station crew, told me that he did not believe the American theory about the Russian spaceship design causing the disturbance. “I have made seven spacewalks on Mir with that spacesuit,” he insisted, “and if there had been any thrust large enough to push the space station, I would have felt it.”

(James Oberg got to INTERVIEW Sergei. I am sooo jealous.)

9/3

The Expedition 11 crew page is now up at NASA Human Spaceflight! Be sure to check out Sergei’s interview. He and John Phillips are scheduled to do two spacewalks at this stage: one spacewalk in a Russian Orlan spacesuit, the other in a U.S. EMU suit.

11/3

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news release №460:

11/03/2005/15:47 – On the ISS they will try to grow crunchy radishes

The next ISS crew, which launches to the station during April 2005, will try to grow under weightlessness conditions the juicy, crunchy radish.

“A unique experiment on the study of the morphology of radish under the conditions of a half-year space flight will be initiated by the ISS crew of Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips,” reported RIA Novosti, quoting the manager of the laboratory of the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IMBP), Vladimir Sychev.

According to him, for cosmonauts one must control, as the process of the entering of nutrients from leaves to the root-crops under weightlessness conditions will be developed.

After the first harvest will be grown and assembled in orbit, into the capacity with the same substratum, or with a soil substitute, it is planned to plant a second generation of radish.

“A question stands so – how often we will be able to use one and the same substratum for obtaining the valuable root-crops, that it is necessary to consider with the design of the onboard hothouse of a manned ship for a flight to Mars,” explained Sychev.

Radishes for the future “orbital bed” will be delivered to the ISS by the voyage of sequential cargo ship Progress.

Russian version, Русская версия: На Мкс Попробуют Вырастить Хрустящую Редиску.

15/3

Be sure to keep visiting the Energiya website also, for Expedition training news and photos (their Expedition 11 crew pages won’t be up until a week or so before launch). Sergei is an employee at Energiya, as a test-cosmonaut (космонавт-испытател, kosmonavt-ispytatel).

Energiya news: March 15, 2005. Korolev Moscow region.

On March 2-3 next practice training within the plan of the International Space Station Expedition 11 (ISS-11) crew preparation was performed at S.P. Korolev RSC Energiya.

Under the direction of Corporation specialists, Russian cosmonauts Sergei Krikalyov and Mikhail Tyurin (RSC Energiya test-cosmonauts) and their US colleagues John Phillips and Daniel Tani (NASA astronauts) worked through operation techniques with flight video and photographic apparatus, as well as performed training in operations required to implement space experiments Matreshka and RadioSkaff aboard the ISS.

Activities on the Russian-European Matreshka experiment are underway once Alexander Kaleri and Michael Foale have installed an analog of a human body in spacesuit on the Zvezda service module surface during extravehicular activity on February 27, 2004, under the ISS-8 expedition program.

The RadioSkaff experiment performance is scheduled within the ISS-11 expedition program. During crew EVA the Russian Orlan-M spacesuit, which spent its life and into which the crew will install appropriate equipment while being aboard the ISS, should be launched from the station to free flight in a near-Earth orbit. It is expected that the spacesuit-satellite will send voice messages in several languages in amateur band every 2 minutes for no less than two months, as well as Earth or space images taken by the WEB-camera installed by the crew. The action is timed to the 175th anniversary of the N.E. Bauman Moscow State Engineering University and the 75th anniversary of the S. Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute students of which participate in the support of the experiment.

18/3

Novosti Kosmonavtiki gallery: 18 March 2005. “Anniversary of Roskosmos, dedicated to the flight of Voskhod-2 and to the first exit of man into open space. 18 March 2005 | Юбилей в Роскосмосе, посвященный полету «Восхода-2» и первому выходу человека в открытый космос. 18 Марта 2005г.” Sergei images direct links: 2190, 2213.

22/3

ESA News From Moscow issue 5: 22 March 2005

Visit to Star City and RSC Energiya

On March 9-10, 2005 a group of European journalists visited Star City and RSC Energiya to witness the training and preparation for the next flight to ISS. ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italian nationality will take part in the next mission to ISS. He will be a flight engineer on board the Soyuz spacecraft for the flight to the Space Station and the return flight. From the European side many journalists have shown their interest in participating in the Press Trip to Star City and RSC Energiya, for instance, La Republica (Italy), RAI (Italy), Finish Broadcasting company (Finland), Focus Photoagentur (Germany), ANSA (Italy), representatives of Lazio region (Italy). The trip was led by Franco Bonacina (ESA/HQ) and Franca Morgia (ESA/ESRIN).

Star City

On March 9, 2005 we arrived in Star City. First of all we went to the Centrifuge facility where astronauts were training. The Centrifuge simulator is a very important stage in flight preparation. It gives an understanding for the specialists what kind of impact G-loads have on each astronaut. They check all the medical parameters. Specialists from GCTC gave a very detailed explanation on the Centrifuge simulator.

Roberto Vittori himself was showing step by step all the actions he had to perform during this test. This test is compulsory for all cosmonauts who are training in Star City. They have to go through it twice a year, despite the fact that before each flight they have to perform this test twice: one – simulating the G-loads during the launch and the other one – for the landing.

The Russian specialists allowed our group to go upstairs on the second floor and we could see how the astronauts were actually entering the Centrifuge capsule. On the third floor we saw the Soyuz onboard computer simulator. It reminds very much a play station with a joystick. But the only difference is that it is not a game, by means of this simulator the astronauts prepare for the future flight, they can simulate a lot of non-standard situations that may occur during the launch and landing.

There was a unique possibility to meet with Sergei Krikalyov, a Russian cosmonaut. The total duration of all his flight exceeds 600 days, and plus his next mission with Mr. Phillips that will last for 175 days.

Roberto Vittori and Sergei Krikalyov were talking in an informal manner. They were telling about their future flight, their expectations and hopes. They both expressed their admiration of each other’s experience and they are really looking forward to work together onboard of the Space Station.

At the Hydrolab facility the Russian specialists from Star City showed our group the Russian Module Zvezda. Astronauts perform different tasks at the Hydrolab that allows them to prepare for an Extra Vehicular Activity. The Russian specialists say that if an astronaut is able to perform these entire tasks on Earth at the Hydrolab then it will not be a problem for them while they are in the outer space. Mr. Yuri Gidzenko, a Russian cosmonaut and a crew member of the previous Vittori’s Mission Marco Polo came to the Hydrolab. He gave several interviews to our group. Most of the questions were about the future flight to Mars. He said that psychologically we were prepared for this mission but we did not have a technical basis to accomplish this flight yet.

We also had an opportunity to visit the training facilities with Zarya and Zvezda modules. Roberto Vittori dressed in the Sokol spacesuit and showed some elements of his training at these modules.

RSC Energiya

The next day the group of European journalists visited RSC Energiya. First there was a briefing with Mr. Alexander Derechin, Head of External Economic Relations and Marketing Department at RSC Energiya. He told about the history of the corporation and gave a detailed explanation about the experiments that will be carried out during this mission. The journalists were very interested in the Clipper project. Mr. Derechin disclosed some interesting details about the possibilities of realization of this project. For now Clipper is planned to be launched with the Zenit launcher. There was a proposal from the Russian side to their European partners to participate in this project. European side did not confirm their participation yet. The Federal Space Agency will start financing this project from 2006.

During our discussion with Mr. Derechin journalists saw great possibilities of Clipper and they have decided to tell more about this project in Europe. Derechin said that, of course, it would be very nice if there will be an international cooperation in this project, especially with Europeans. After the briefing we had a chance to visit the unique RSC Energiya’s museum where we were briefed on the history of all spaceflights starting with Sputnik.

(By Albina Valeeva, ESA Moscow Office)

23/3

Some news sent to me by Cezy: Sergei Volkov will not be joining Expedition 11 via STS-121 after all; astronaut Tracy Caldwell will be in his seat instead. Expedition 11 will thus consist only of Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips. Bad luck for Sergei V.; he must be disappointed. I am not yet sure of the reason for his being removed.

24/3

ESA: “Italian prepares for a second ride up to the Space Station”. No sign of an Eneide mission page there, yet!

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №463:

24/03/2005/09:36 – The Expedition 11 crews will undergo their final training exams

The basic and duplicate crews of the 11th ISS expedition on Thursday morning approached the fulfillment of final complex trainings, reported RIA News. Cosmonauts at the examination drew tickets, in which were contained questions concerning the procedures of contingency situations on the ISS.

“We always insert into the ticket on four ‘neshtatki’ – on the systems of vital activity, communications and the thermal control, medicine and actions in the case of possible fire aboard or the toxicities of the atmosphere. We also monitor the actions of crew in the case of injuries and cuts”, explained Andrei Kuritsyn, section head of instructors on the ISS Russian segment.

On Thursday, Russian Sergei Krikalyov and American John Phillips, and also ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori, will undertake tasks on the trainers of the ISS Russian segment. The duplicating crew – Mikhail Turin, Daniel Tani and Robert Thirsk on this day passes examinations in the ground-based Soyuz TMA trainer. On Friday the crews interchange the position themselves.

On the sums of the delivery of examinations all will obtain estimations and recommendations regarding the “work on errors”. Then interdepartmental commission will have to affirm the composition of the basic and duplicating crews of the 11th Expedition. The decision of the experts will be proclaimed on 29 March at the preflight press conference of cosmonauts, to which specialist space reporters are also invited, according to tradition.

Russian version, Русская версия: Экипажи 11-Й Экспедиции На Мкс Начали Сдавать Экзамены.

Soyuz TMA preparations continue at Baikonur

On 23 March at the spaceport Baikonur there began leak checks of the manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA. The day before, the ship was transported into the altitude chamber and the evacuation of air was carried out from the vacuum chamber. In the course of pneumo-vacuum tests, the airtightness of automatic spacecraft will be determined and its separate it is main. It is planned, that the pneumo-vacuum tests will be prolonged to the end of the week. The launch of the carrier rocket Soyuz FG with the manned ship Soyuz TMA is planned on 15 April.

– The press-service of FKTS “Baikonur”.

Russian version, Русская версия: На Байконуре Продолжается Подготовка Корабля «Союз ТМА-6».

25/3

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №463:

25/03/2005/00:05 – The crews’ final training began at TsPK

Expediton 11 surrounded by media during their training session

On 24 March, 2005, in the Russian state scientific research test center of training the cosmonauts named after Yu.A. Gagarin, passed the first day of the final complex training of the basic crew of the Soyuz TMA spacecraft (Sergei Krikalyov, John Phillips and Roberto Vittori). According to tradition, in the presence of center management and representatives of the media were proposed to cosmonauts the control questions, sealed up into the envelopes.

Besides the the photo- and tele-survey, for journalists it was possible to ask the crew several questions. Spaceship commander Sergei Krikalyov briefly described the special features of preparation for this flight into the cosmos and programs of expedition. “During the change of shift of the crews, an international program will be carried out with equipping of Italian equipment”. Sergei Konstantinovich noted that “on the second shuttle is planned the delivery in orbit of an ESA cosmonaut”. The duration of work in orbit of this crew in many respects depends on the flights of the American spacecraft. It was emphasized that the renewal of the Shuttle flights will give new impetus of the international collaboration in the cosmos.

The specialists of the center of training cosmonauts described some procedures of training the crews.

On 25 March the second day of complex final training before leaving for the spaceport Baikonur for conducting the training on the combat apparatus and fitting of equipment.

– The Roskosmos press-service.

Russian version, Русская версия: В ЦПК Началась Зачетная Тренировка Экипажей.

25/03/2005/00:05 – The basic and duplicate crews are prepared for the flight to the ISS

The launch of the 11th expedition to the International Space Station, comprising Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov and American John Philips, is planned from the spaceport Baikonur on 15 April of this year.

With them, on his second week-long space mission in orbit, will travel the European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori, who during May 2002 already flew on the ISS as a flight engineer.

As during his first ISS flight, the sponsor of Roberto’s expedition is the government of the territory of Italian province Latsio, where many enterprises in the space field are concentrated. Roberto Vittori has the title of Colonel in the Italian Air Force. He flew about 2000 hours on different type aircraft, among them: F-104, Tornado Gr-1, F-18, AMKH, M-2000, 0-222 and R-180. During July 1998, Roberto Vittori was selected by the Italian space agency, together with ESA, and in that month were included in the composition of the force of European astronauts, which is located in the European center of astronauts in Cologne, Germany.

In the duplicating crew are included Russian Mikhail Turin, who worked at the Russian station Mir, and American Daniel Tani, who flew on the Shuttle. On 24 March of this year, the basic and duplicating crews of the 11th ISS expedition approached the fulfillment of their final complex training. The cosmonauts will learn to master actions in contingency situations: on the systems of vital activity, communications and thermal control, medicine and in the case of possible fire aboard or the toxicity of the atmosphere.

Besides this basic crew – S. Krikalyov, J. Phillips and R. Vittori, who will master tasks on the trainers of Russian segment ISS. The duplicating crew – M. Tyurin, D. Tani and R. Thirsk are occupied in the ground-based trainer of the Soyuz TMA spacecraft. Then crews interchange the position themselves.

Interdepartmental commission will have to affirm the composition of the basic and duplicating crews of the 11th Expedition. The resolution of commission will be proclaimed on 29 March at the traditional preflight press conference of cosmonauts.

– The Roskosmos Press-Service.

Russian version, Русская версия: Основной и Дублирующий Экипажи Готовятся к Полету на Мкс.

26/3

«В Смольном побывал знаменитый космонавт Сергей Крикалев», Официальный портал Администрации Санкт-Петербурга, St. Petersburg administration official portal.

Famous cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov visited Smolnyy

Today, on 26 March, the governor of city met in the Smolnyy with the Hero of the Soviet Union, hero of Russia, airman-cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov. This outstanding cosmonaut, who during April will be the first among the domestic cosmonauts will complete the sixth flight into space, was born in Saint Petersburg. Here, on the Petrograd side, he grew and learned, here he joined the aero club and completed his first flight. In Petersburg, the parents of Sergei live. the city governor invited Sergei Konstantinovich into the Smolnyy, in order to entrust to him a medal dedicated to the memory of the 300th anniversary of Saint Petersburg, a valuable gift-panel with an image of Petropavlovsk fortress, and also a photograph with the forms of the northern capital, which the cosmonaut in the very near future will take up to the International Space Station.

“To me it is infinitely pleasant to entrust today an anniversary medal and symbols of our city to a man, who by the entirety of his biography, by his deeds and simply by the charm of his personality, confirms the proud title of ‘Peterburzhtsa’. Undoubtedly, Saint Petersburg is worthy so that the symbols of city would visit space.”

V.I. Matviyenko wished the honorable guest new achievements to the glory of national and world cosmonautics.

“You know, whatever difficulties to you were encountered, your Petersburg was with you. We remember and we love you,” she said, completing the encounter.

Sergei photos direct links:: 7E1D2372, 7E1D2402, 7E1D2430, 7E1D2444, 7E1D2460, 7E1D2486, 7E1D2513.

28/3

Energiya official press release: March 28, 2005 Korolev, Moscow Area. “At Korolev RSC Energiya a regular session of the Board of Chief Designers on the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) was held that was dedicated to the next phase of the flight program of the station and the Soyuz TMA-6 manned spacecraft launch processing.”

ESA News from Moscow, 28 March:

ISS General Designers’ Review

On Monday 28/03/2005, an ISS General Designers’ Review took place at RSC Energiya. The review was chaired by Deputy General Designer Nikolai Zelenchshikov, due to the illness of the General Designer Yu. Semenov, President of RSC Energiya. In addition to management representatives of all major RSC Energiya sub-contractors, Roscosmos (N. Moiseev, A. Krasnov), IBMP, GCTC (V. Tsibliyev, Korzun), NASA (P. Newman) and ESA (A. Fournier-Sicre, T.Suslova) were represented.

Topic of this GDR was the launch readiness review of the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft with its ISS Main Crew No.11 and the ESA astronaut R. Vittori (Visiting Expedition No.8) onboard.

In his opening statement Zelenchshikov informed that in December RSC Energiya was forced to change its servicing bank (Editor’s note: Before it was Sobinbank) and since then the procedure of payments has not yet been fully established with the new bank. Therefore he kindly asked the sub-contracting companies not to bring forward the issue of old debts of Energiya trailing since 2004. At the same time he assured that all the 90% of advance payments to the subcontractors for the activities previewed in 2005 will be made by April 1. N. Zelenchshikov expressed his pleasure that the US Shuttle is returning to flight, with at least two flights planned in 2005.

N. Zelenchshikov recapitulated the achievements since the last GDR in October 2004 (Soyuz TMA-4 landing, Soyuz TMA-5 launch, 2 Progress launches) and pointed out the specifics of the upcoming Soyuz TMA-6 mission with NASA and ESA as participating parties.

Concerning the Soyuz TMA-6 readiness N. Zelenchshikov informed that during the testing of Soyuz TMA-6 in Baikonur there were 4 minor problems;

  • An electrical trouble with the antenna of the Kurs system supplied by NII TP – antenna had to be brought back to the manufacturing plant, repaired and then shipped back to Baikonur;
  • A defect of the on-board TV camera to be tested in preparation for the ATV operational phase – mended on-site;
  • Two software problems on the on-board computer (SUBK) – eliminated on-site;
  • Faulty device (lamp) in the lighting system – replaced .

Mr. Zelenchshikov said that important experiments in preparation to the first ATV flight will be carried out during the TMA-6 flight, involving sophisticated navigation equipment. He also stated that a dedicated European- Russian review meeting would be held prior to the first ATV flight. The number of experiments to be carried out on board of the ISS during the coming Eneide mission is 23, while the total number of experiments carried out with the Europeans on board of the ISS is 76, he said.

The following outline of the launch preparation activities was given:

  • Crew fit-check (03 – 05/04/2005)
  • Fuelling operations (05 – 06/04/2005)
  • Assembly of upper composite (7 – 11/04/2005)
  • Docking of upper composite with launcher (12/04/2005)
  • Activities at launch pad (13 – 15/04/2005) Launch time: 15/04/2005, 05:46 Moscow time (07:46 Baikonur time).

Management representatives (Chief Designers) of all main RSC Energiya subcontractors, RSC Energiya Department Heads, IBMP, GCTC, as well as representatives of TsNIIMash, KBOM (responsible for the readiness of launch site) and Russian military gave positive reports on the readiness for the Soyuz TMA-6 launch.

Specifically Mr. Tsibliyev, Head of GCTC, and the representative of the IBMP, reported that all cosmonauts have passed their exams with excellent marks and are in good health condition. The only remark was made in respect to the US astronaut J. Phillips who has gained weight during his training and was forced to lose a few kilograms to fit into the standard 95 kg required for Soyuz TMA.

The Russian specialists assessed the present status of the ISS systems as satisfactory despite the continuing difficulties with the Elektron system providing oxygen. The problem was partially solved by delivering on board the ISS a number of spare items with the Progress M-52 (see NFM No.5). Another spare kit will be sent with the next Progress early in June this year.

The specialists of RSC Energiya reported also on the readiness of the Soyuz TMA-5 for landing. The reserve battery of the vehicle has low capacity due to a malfunction, however the main battery operates well. By the estimate of the specialists, even in case the landing is performed using the reserve battery, its present capacity should be enough for successful landing.

Based on these reports N. Zelenchshikov formulated a GDR proposal to the Roscosmos “Kollegium” board to give green light for the final launch preparation of Soyuz TMA-6 with a planned launch date on 15/04/2005.
(By Tatyana Suslova, ESA Permanent Mission in RF)

Some items from Novosti Kosmonavtiki news release №463:

28/03/2005/13:53 – St. Petersburg symbols will be delivered to the ISS

On Saturday, on 26 March, in the Smol’nom the governor of Petersburg, Valentina Matviyenko will meet with airman-cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov and will present to him a souvenir with the symbolism of the northern capital, which he will deliver to the international orbital station ISS.

As reported RIA News in the press-service of municipal administration, on 15 April, 2005, the sequential launch is planned of the manned Soyuz spacecraft to the international orbital station. The crew includes the Hero of the Soviet Union, the hero of the Russian Federation, airman-cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov.

“Sergei Krikalyov was born in Petersburg; here he finished at the military-mechanical institute, and in the city on the Neva live his parents,” they noted in the press-service.

The colleague of press-service recalled that in 2003, the year of the 300th anniversary of the northern capital, because of Sergei Krikalyov the flag of Petersburg was delivered to the ISS, and it is now displayed the museum of cosmonautics and by rocket the technicians of name Glushko in the Petropavlovsk fortress.

Russian version, Русская версия: Символика Петербурга будет доставлена на МКС.

29/3

Items from Novosti Kosmonavtiki news release №464.

29/03/2005/11:23 – The composition of the 11th ISS expedition is confirmed

This morning in Star City took place the session of the interdepartmental commission, during which was affirmed the composition of the crew of the 11th expedition to the ISS. As it was assumed, they announced: Sergei Krikalyov, John Phillips and Roberto Vittori.

Russian version, Русская версия: Утвержден состав 11-й экспедиции на МКС.

29/03/2005/10:11 – The head of Roskosmos will meet the cosmonauts and astronauts

Today in the Federal Space Agency the head of the Russian space department, Anatolii Perminov, will meet with the basic and duplicating crews (Prime Expedition-11 and Visiting Crew-8). The launch of the Soyuz-FG carrier rocket with the spacecraft Soyuz TMA-6 is scheduled for 15 April of this year from the Baikonur spaceport.

According to tradition, Anatolii Perminov will appear before the cosmonauts and the astronauts, then he will listen to their observations and proposals about the system of preparation for the flight, its quality and results. Sergei Krikalyov, Soyuz and ISS-11 commander, will brief him on this. The chief problem, which interests the management of Roskosmos: is the crew ready for flight?

Joint tea drinking takes place on the completion of encounter and exchange of opinions, and the head of Roskosmos will present memorable gifts to the basic and duplicating crews. For the basic crew – cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov, and the astronauts John Phillips and Roberto Vittori – “Fortis” watches were specially ordered and prepared in Switzerland; these have been the official chronograph of cosmonauts. Today these are single copies, released only for the Expedition 11 crew and visiting crew.

To the encounter are invited the representatives of the media, the management of RGNII TSPK (named after Yu.A.Gagarin), and the management and colleagues of Roskosmos.

– Roskosmos press-service.

Russian version, Русская версия: Глава Роскосмос примет космонавтов и астронавтов.

29/03/2005/10:09 – The council session of the chief designers took place

As reported at the RKK Energiya website, the current council session of chief designers took place for the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) about the readiness for conducting of the sequential stage of the Station flight program and the preparation for the launch of the manned ship Soyuz TMA-6.

They came out with the reports:

  • Yu.I. Grigor’ev (deputy design project leader OF RKK Energiya) – about the basic sums of the flight of the ninth and tenth expeditions to the international station (ISS-9 and ISS-10), about the proposals according to the flight program of the eleventh expedition (ISS-11) and of the eighth expedition of visit (EP-8 – Visiting Crew-8), about the launch preparation ship Soyuz TMA-6, the technical state of station and ship Soyuz TMA-5, which works in its composition and on which will carry out a return to the Earth of the ISS-10 crew and EP-8;
  • The chief designers, the responsible representatives of developer enterprises and the producers of the component parts of the rocket-space complex and onboard systems – on questions of the technical readiness of ship, carrier rocket and launching system for the starting;
  • V.V. Tsibliyev (chief of RGNII TSPK named after Yu.A. Gagarin) – about launch readiness of the crews of expeditions ISS-11 and EP-8;
  • V.V. Bogomolov (deputy director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems, IMBP) – about the status of the health of crews ISS-10, ISS-11 and EP-8;
  • V.A. Solov’ev (leader of the main operations group of control – GOGU, the deputy design project leader of RKK Energiya, airman-cosmonaut) – about the motion of flight ISS, of readiness of documentation on the flight control, the readiness of GOGU personnel, and of crews for the forthcoming works on the docking of Soyuz TMA-6 with the station;
  • A.T. Goryachenkov (deputy of the general director of TSNII – the Central Scientific Research Institute of Machine-building) – about the conclusion of Roskosmos concerning the technical state of the ISS and the readiness for launch of Soyuz TMA-6.

The basic ISS-11 crew is prepared for the flight, consisting of two people: Russian cosmonaut Sergei krikalev (commander ISS-11, the craft Soyuz TMA commander) and American astronaut John Phillips (Soyuz TMA ship flight engineer, flight engineer ISS-11). In the composition of crew of ship – astronaut of the European space agency (YEKA) of the citizen of Italy Roberto Vittori (Soyuz TMA flight engineer-2). He will work at the station according to the EP-8 program and return to Earth with the ISS-10 crew aboard Soyuz TMA-5.

Mission objectives of the ISS-11 crew are:

  • the maintenance operations of the undocking of Soyuz TMA-5, Progress M-52, to docking and undocking of Soyuz TMA-6, to docking, unloading and to joint operation on the Station with the ships Progress M-53, Progress M-54, and docking of Soyuz TMA-7;
  • the maintenance of the fitness for work of Station;
  • the fulfilment of one “exit” into open space;
  • the execution of the program of applied-scientific studies;
  • return aboard the ship Soyuz TMA-6.

The program of applied-scientific studies in the stage ISS-11 includes fulfilment of approximately 40 experiments, including according to the Russian program, and also contract works.

In the course of EP-8 is provided for fulfilment of approximately 20 experiments, including visual observations, medicine, biotechnology, technology, photo- and video recording.

During Expedition ISS-11, the American side plans to renew the flights of the reusable ships: Discovery STS-114 (15-25 May) and Atlantis STS-121 (12-21 July). Moreover, during the second flight it is intended to begin the long-duration flight of an ESA astronaut for the purpose of checking installation and readiness of the equipment of Zvezda for the joint operation with the first European cargo ship ATV Jules Verne.

The council of chief designers, after examining technical ship state Soyuz TMA-5 and stations, the state ship readiness Soyuz TMA-6, the motion of the preparation of carrier rocket Soyuz-FG and launching system, the readiness of personnel of the Russian and American ground environment of preparation and services of the flight control, the readiness of crews for the implementation of the ISS flight program and of the ship, and also taking into account the positive conclusions about the readiness for the work of ship and station as a whole, made the decision to approve:

  • the sums of the execution of the program of works on ISS during preceding period;
  • the results of tests and the plan of forthcoming work on the preparation for launch of Soyuz TMA-6 for the planned replacement at the station of Soyuz TMA-5 and the realization of the expedition EP-8 with the return to the Earth of Russian cosmonaut S. Sharipov (ISS-10 flight engineer, Soyuz TMA-5 commander), NASA astronaut L. Chiao (ISS-10 commander, Soyuz TMA-5 flight engineer) and ESA R. Vittori (Soyuz TMA-6 FE-2, EP-8 FE);
  • the study program and experiments in the stage of Expedition ISS-11 with the duration of 175 days;
  • the program of conducting the EP-8 expedition with a duration of 11 days, which foresees the flight of ESA astronaut R. Vittori and fulfilment of experiments and studies, developed by the scientists of Russia and participating countries of ESA, and also contract works.

The council session of chief designers was conducted under the chairmanship of N.I. Zelenshchikova (first deputy design project leader at RKK Energiya). In this session participated the representatives of Roskosmos, NASA, ESA, enterprises and organizations of branch, which participate in the realization of project.

The launch of Soyuz TMA-6 is scheduled for 15 April, 2005, 04:46 Moscow time.

Russian version, Русская версия: Состоялся Совет Главных.

30/3

Items from Novosti Kosmonavtiki news release №464.

In this report Anatolii Perminov met the Expedition 11 crew and describes the magnitude of the tasks ahead of them:

30/03/2005/09:43 – The head of Roskosmos has the traditional meeting with the cosmonauts

At 17 hours on 29 March of this year in the Roskosmos headquarters, Anatolii Perminov began the traditional meeting with the cosmonauts. This time, the head of the Federal Space Agency met with the members of the basic ISS Expedition 11 crew (Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov, American astronaut John Philips, and European Space Agency astronaut Robert Vittori) and the members of the duplicating crew (Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin and American astronaut Daniel Tani).

On the eve of both crews passed final complex training in RGNII TSP (named after Yu.A. Gagarin), in course of which they learned to master actions in different contingency situations.

According to tradition, Anatoliy Perminov listened to Soyuz and Expedition 11 commander Sergei Krikalyov report the readiness of the crew for flight, and also observations and the proposals about the system of preparation for the flight, its quality and results.

Great interest caused the Roskosmos leader’s contact with the members of basic and duplicating crews and the representatives of the media, also invited to this encounter. For the media representatives, there was pleasant unexpected contingency news concerning the fact that the birthday of American astronaut John Phillips coincides with the Soyuz TMA-6 launch, and Sergei Krikalyov will celebrate his birthday [47th] while on the ISS.

Speaking about the magnitude of the tasks entrusted to Expedition 11, A. Perminov, turned to the basic crew and noted: “For you one must twice leave into open space, complete 39 experiments, 4 of which are new. Their directions are the most different: space technology and materials science, geophysical studies, biomedical problems, the analysis of the natural resources of the Earth and ecological monitoring, space biotechnology and many others. But, besides this entirety, you await the additional work, connected with the return to the flights of the American Shuttles. Already during May you must assist Discovery, beginning from detailed photography and concluding by loading-unloading operations. During July you must accept Endeavour, after which your crew will increase by one member: European astronaut Thomas Reiter. You must accept 2 Russian Progress cargo ships and 1 manned Soyuz when your crew changes over. Briefly, it is not necessary for you to sit idly for half a year. The flight program is very intense, very critical and, without exaggeration, the attention of the entire world will be riveted to it.”

Joint tea drinking took place on the completion of encounter and exchange of opinions and the head of Roskosmosa presented memorable gifts to the basic and duplicating crews. For the basic crew – cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov and the astronauts John Phillips and Roberto Vittori – were given specially-ordered and prepared steel Swiss “Fortis” watches, which are the official chronograph of cosmonauts. Today these are unique copies, released only for the Expedition 11 crew and 7th visiting crew. To the duplicating crew were presented watches decorated with the symbols of the Federal Space Agency.

– Roskosmos press-service.

Russian version, Русская версия: Традиционная встреча руководителя Роскосмоса с космонавтами.

30/03/2005/00:02 – A German astronaut will possibly become a member of Expedition 11

With the renewal of the flights of shuttles to the ISS a third member of crew may arrive on the ISS: German Thomas Reiter, reports RIA www.rian.ru. On this reported the commander of the 11th ISS long-duration expedition, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov. European space agency astronaut (ESA), Thomas Reiter of Germany, is planned to be delivered to the station with the second shuttle flight (after the Columbia catastrophe) in the middle of July 2005. As it is expected, Reiter will return to Earth together with the crew of the 11th expedition – by Russian Sergei Krikalyov and American John Phillips (who launch to the ISS on 15 April 2005 from the Baikonur spaceport.

Russian version, Русская версия: Немецкий астронавт, возможно, войдет в состав экипажа МКС.

April

1/4

ESA News from Moscow issue 6: 1 April 2005

Expedition 11 Press Conference In Star City

On March 29 the Yu.A. Gagarin State Science and Research Cosmonaut Training Center hosted a press conference of the International Space Station Expedition 11 main and backup crews and Visiting Crew 8.

Accredited journalists, representatives of leading electronic media and popular printed press took part in the event. The press conference was moderated by Col. Tofrov.

Before the press conference began, the GCTC Chief Vasili Tsybliyev presented to Sergei Krikalyov the Order of Friendship – an award given to the courageous cosmonaut by the government.

Traditionally, the first question was asked by the veteran journalist Vladimir Bezyayev of the Mayak Radio Station. Commander Sergei Krikalyov gave a very detailed description of the pending mission. The mission will include a total of 42 scientific experiments.

Many questions were asked about life conditions and leisure time on board the station. The Crew Commander’s answers indicated that he was rather in the mood for serious and productive work in orbit. The cosmonauts did not intend to take any movies with them into orbit: “It is not a visit to a movie theater.”

Of course, souvenirs and mascots will accompany the cosmonauts, for example, Roberto Vittori will have a little bunny with him – a souvenir from his wife Valeria.

Several times Sergei Krikalyov helped his foreign colleagues out during their communications with the journalists despite the fact that Roberto Vittori and John Phillips have a good command of Russian. Vittori pointed out: “He is a good commander and a good interpreter.”

John Phillips recalled that when he was 10 years old, Yuri Gagarin made his historic flight into space, and it was then that John had made a firm decision to become an astronaut. During his training to prepare for his second space mission, the 401st astronaut of the world J. Phillips visited the office of the man who had called everybody into space.

After the press conference was over, the crewmembers visited the memorial office of Yuri Gagarin, signed the Visitors Book and had an exchange with the museum guides. Sergei Krikalyov showed John Phillips on the Gagarin’s map hanging on the wall the place from which they would be launched into space – the Baikonur cosmodrome. The crews made a brief tour of the museum and took photos in front of the docking mechanism that was used in the Soyuz-Apollo experimental mission 30 years ago.

Editor’s note: This press conference was held after the traditional meeting of the commission in charge of evaluating the crew preparedness for the mission. R. Vittori passed all the exams with excellent results. A. Fournier-Sicre was present at the commission meeting.

3/4

Energiya photo-report: April 3, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “The prime crew (Sergei Krikalyov [Russia], John Phillips [USA], Roberto Vittori [Italy]) and backup crew (Mikhail Tyurin [Russia], Daniel Tani [USA], Robert Thirsk [Canada]) of the Soyuz TMA-6 transport spacecraft arrived to the cosmodrome to accomplish training and accept the spacecraft.”

4/4

Energiya photo-report: April 4, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “In the Cosmonauts Preparation Room. Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov (Soyuz TMA-6 Commander, ISS-11 Commander), American astronaut John Phillips (Soyuz TMA-6 Flight Engineer, ISS-11 Flight Engineer) and visiting crew participant ESA astronaut, Italian citizen Roberto Vittori (Soyuz TMA-6 Flight Engineer 2) during a fit-check of the space suits and individual seat liners.”

“As One ISS Crew Prepares for Landing, Another Gears Toward Launch”, Space.com.

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №465:

04/04/2005/00:02 – Runway icing interferes with departure to the spaceport

Because of extreme icing of the takeoff and landing strip (VPP) at the airfield, the departure of Expedition 11 to Baikonur has been delayed. From the Moscow area the cosmonauts were to depart in Sunday at 10:00 MSK, reported Interfaks. The previously representative of the Zvezdni Gorodok reported that the cosmonauts in Baikonur will study the “fitting” of the spacecraft, in which they will conduct the flight to the station.

Russian version, Русская версия: Вылету на космодром мешает обледенение полосы.

5/4

Energiya photo-report: April 5, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Fueling of the Soyuz TMA-6 transport spacecraft with propellants and compressed gases is under way.”

7/4

Energiya Photo Report: April 7, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft was docked with the transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.”

8/4

Johnson Space Center: ISS Status Report: 8 April.

Energiya photo-report: April 8, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. Designers’ inspection of the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft was completed. Payload shroud roll on to the spacecraft was performed.

10/4

Energiya photo-report: April 10, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “The Soyuz TMA-6 prime and backup crews inspected the transport spacecraft in its launch configuration in the Assembly and Testing Facility.”

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №465:

04/04/2005/14:56 – The crews arrive in Baikonur

To the spaceport Baikonur on Saturday in the second half of the day arrived the basic and duplicating crews of the 11th expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), reports Interfaks. Cosmonauts and their accompanying assistants arrived flying from the Zvezdni Gorodok on two aircraft of the center of training cosmonauts.

Answering questions of journalists in the airport, the member of the basic crew of spacecraft Soyuz TMA, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov said: “We are in the mood for work. The crew is ready. Are still somewhat dash here at the spaceport – and we will be completely ready to flight”.

“Together with Sergei Krikalyov we were prepared for the flight of more than three and one-half years in Zvezdni Gorodok and in our center in Houston (USA). We are ready for the flight and to work on the maintenance of station, start and landing aboard the transport Soyuz spacecraft”, said astronaut NASA John Phillips.

In turn the astronaut of European space agency (ESA) Italian Roberto Vittori, who flies into space for a second time, expressed the hope for the success of expedition and emphasized: “The program of my expedition is large – Italian and European scientists prepared 22 experiments, and it is necessary to have time to do everything”. At the spaceport Baikonur the crews will conduct the second training in the descent vehicle of space ship Soyuz and will pass the final stage of prelaunch servicing procedure. The launch of the 11th basic expedition and 6th expedition of visit is planned on 15 April from Baikonur.

Russian version, Русская версия: Экипажи прибыли на Байконур.

11/4

Energiya photo-report: April 11, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft was transported from the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility to the Launch Vehicle Assembly and Testing Facility for integration.”

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №467:

11/04/2005/00:03 – Russian cosmonaut will work on the ISS in the Bordeau red suit, and American – in a grayish-green

The crew of the forthcoming expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), which will leave for space on 15 April, selected for their work in orbit suits of grayish-green and Bordeau-red in color, reported Interfaks.

“The cosmonauts ordered for themselves overalls of a light grey color with bright red finishing. The second pair of working overalls they ordered differently: Krikalyov selected a suit of a Bordeau-red color, and Phillips a suit the color of sea waves with the figure on the motives of American flag on the breast,” Aleksandr Varov, the director of enterprise Kentavr, “Centaur-Science”, which creates clothing for cosmonauts, told Interfaks.

According to him, on all suits will be embroidered the emblem of the eleventh expedition and embroidered name and the surname of cosmonauts.

In the selection of remaining items for the work in orbit are shorts and polo shirts, the jackets and the sports shirts, the underwear and other – the cosmonauts left this to the discretion of the Russian “space designers”.

The specialists of enterprise prepared for the cosmonauts also several complete sets of jackets and linen.

Russian version, Русская версия: Российский космонавт будет работать на МКС в бордовом костюме, а американский – в серо-зеленом.

12/4

  • Energiya photo-report: April 12, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft was integrated with the launch vehicle in the LV Assembly and Testing Facility.”
  • Energiya photo-report: April 12, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “A meeting of the Governmental Commission and the Technical Management was held where a decision was made to roll out the launch vehicle carrying Soyuz TMA-6 to the launch pad.”

13/4

  • Energiya photo-report: April 13, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “At 5:00 a.m. Moscow Time, the transporter with the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle and the Soyuz TMA-6 transport spacecraft left the Assembly and Testing Facility and arrived to the launch pad for the final pre-launch processing. The Soyuz-FG-Soyuz TMA-6 system was erected on the launcher. First launch day activities began.”
  • “Russian Rocket Ready to Launch Next ISS Crew“, Space.com.

14/4

  • Johnson Space Center: Station Status Report: 14 April.
  • Energiya press release: April 14, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “A meeting of the State Board was held at which the Soyuz TMA-6 and ISS-11 prime and backup crews were approved, as well as a decision was made to continue the Soyuz-FG/Soyuz TMA-6 rocket & space complex processing for filling and launch within the scheduled time – on April 15, 2005, at 4:46 a.m. Moscow time.”
  • ESA: “Final countdown to the Eneide Mission”.
  • Space.com:
  • ISS Fan Club reports:
    • Roberto Vittori on the air soon
      ik1sld writes “Sergei told us, also, that he will help Vittori, IZ6ERU, to do other contacts after the two scheduled with Italian schools. He can’t promise that but he will try for sure.”
    • Exp. 11 on its way to the ISS. Voice operations expected soon.
      iz6byy writes “Expedition 11 has just took off from Baikonur onboard the Soyuz capsule. Sergei told us on the phone that he wants to do voice contacts… let’s hope he will have time to do so!”

Sergei is also involved in this Russian children’s charity; unfortunately the bad Babelfish translation makes it difficult to understand what it is about, and doesn’t do it justice! (“Mir” means both peace and world, so I am not sure which meaning to use.) From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №468

14/04/2005/00:03 – The All-Russian charitable action is conducted

On the initiative of a number of authoritative Russian public organizations, regional and political leaders, will be carried out All-Russian charitable action “By the roads of fathers. Increasingly better – to children!”.

The action obtained the wide support of V.V. Putin, the President of the Russian Federation; Deputies of the State Duma the federal meeting of the Russian Federation; the ministry of formation and science; the Moscow municipal duma, government of Moscow; the administration of Saint Petersburg; and has obtained the blessings of the holiest Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Aleksei II.

The action started on 9 May, 1999, by overflight to “Peace – yes!” on Russia hero-cities on the only flying Li-2 veteran aircraft in the world.

Thus it happened, that the action had very interesting continuation. It began to with great interest include the children, and their organizers only supported.

Memorial overflight along the route of lend-lease “Alaska-Siberia”, action the “Voyage of victory”, program “Difficult adolescent”, the festivals of children’s creation is “increasingly better – to children!”, competitions “Merry starts”, program “Start in life”, competitions in go-carting, all this was for the children – orphans and the difficult adolescents, whom our Russian hero-cosmonauts fell in love with and they solved…

On the threshold of 45-1 anniversary of the first launch of man into space to say to entire peace: “Cosmos – for the peace in entire peace!” and to begin within the framework of action to form international children’s and youth movement “New World”. The movement gained support from the Federal Space Agency, the Energiya corporation, the Yurii Gagarin Cosmonauts’ Training Center, the TsUP Mission Control Center, the K.E. Tsiolkovskii Russian Academy of cosmonautics, and a number of other organizations.

Today, on the 15th of April flies into space the President of action “By the roads of fathers. Increasingly better – to children!”, Hero of the Soviet Union, the hero of Russia Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalyov, who will work at exhibition for entire world “View from space”. The materials of exhibition will be used for creating a computer game “New World”, developed by the pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin.

The creative union of cosmonauts Sergei Krikalyov and Aleksandr Balandin, who heads the organization committee of action, calls for the economic independence, the ecological safety and the health of the nation. This is an idea of all measures of the programs of children’s and youth motion – the subject of games, stage productions, mode, competitions, festivals and, certainly, the history of Russian cosmonautics with the cycle of programs “Dialogue”.

The project starts today; its President Sergei Krikalyov flies away for the sixth time in space, thus steps over the boundary of the human possibilities of the inhabitants of planet the Earth. This not simply a symbolic event – this is that boundary, which will become the beginning of his not less high professional orbit in the public and public activity together with our action, but subsequently together with the international public children’s and youth movement “New Peace”.

Photo exhibition is “View from Sergei Krikalyov’s space” within the framework of All-Russian charitable action “By the roads of fathers. Increasingly better to children!” – the start of a dialogue with humanity of the planet and basis for the cycle of children’s and youth programs “Dialogue” – “Road into the peace penetrates space!”. But in the consequence as the symbolic directions of subject photo-installations for conducting the international exhibitions, conferences, press-stages, etc.

During November 2005 we plan a solemn charitable concert in the state Kremlin palace on occasion of the return of the international space crew [Expedition 11], the celebration of the cosmonaut-researcher and author of unique photos-essay “Dialogue” – “Road into the peace penetrates space”. To the concert will be invited child-orphans, the veterans of World War II, Soviet and Russian cosmonauts, prominent state and political figures.

On the initiative of organization a committee will be declared and introduced the record of most prolonged space the Odyssy into the list of the Guinness Book of Records, international federation of the aeronautics, book of the records of Russia [Sergei gets into the Guinness Book of Records after his 6th flight!].

This is a sequential step in the mastery of the spaces of distances, cultures, and mutual understanding between the inhabitants of our overall “space house”. We completely sincerely hope that on the return precisely our President of action will personify the words of the prophecy of Tsiolkovskiy and “… will clear the consciousness of Earthlings, the inexhaustible source of knowledge will transmit to them and to the end of the life he will remain the messenger of space reason”!

We, the organizers of the action, will impatiently await the return of Sergei to the Earth.

– The press release of the organization committee of action “By the roads of fathers. Increasingly better – to children!”.

Russian version, Русская версия: Проводится Всероссийская благотворительная акция.

15/4

Prelaunch

  • Energiya photo report: April 15, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “The prime crew is donning flight spacesuits and performing their leak checks.”
  • ESA: “The last hours before launch”.
  • The Moscow Times: Single Mona Lisa 1:1“Mona Lisa goes traveling”. “ ‘Single Mona Lisa 1:1,’ a painting by the Belarussian-born artist Georgy Puzenkov, rests in front of a Progress [Soyuz!] rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. On Friday, Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori will take the painting on a trip to the International Space Station. The cosmic happening is part of Puzenkov’s ongoing project called ‘Mona Lisa Goes Traveling,’ in which the artist has attempted to have his painting photographed in as many unusual locales as possible. Friday also happens to be the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci, who painted the original ‘Mona Lisa’ some 500 years ago.”

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news release №468:

15/04/2005/00:03 – Last launch preparations are concluded in Baikonur

At the spaceport Baikonur are concluded the last preparations for the launch of carrier rocket Soyuz-FG (11A511U-FG) №0014 with the spacecraft Soyuz TMA-6 (11F732 №216).

On the prevailing tradition, in the evening on 14 April the crew viewed the film White Sun of the Desert, and already they arrived at 254-Yu, the area of the spaceport where donning of the spacesuits will occur.

Below is a table of the final stage of prelaunch preparation (according to the data of the center of the operation of the objects of ground-based space infrastructure).

14/04/2005, 20:15 UTC (15/04/2005, 00:15 MSK) Servicing RN with product 099 (by oxygen)
14/04/2005, 20:20 UTC (15/04/2005, 00:20 MSK) Cooling and servicing RN with product 100 (by nitrogen)
14/04/2005, 20:20 UTC (15/04/2005, 00:20 MSK) Servicing block “I” RN by product T-1 (kerosene)
14/04/2005, 20:30 UTC (15/04/2005, 00:30 MSK) Servicing packet RN with product T-1 (kerosene)
14/04/2005, 21:10 UTC (15/04/2005, 01:10 MSK) Servicing packet RN with product 030 (hydrogen peroxide)
14/04/2005, 21:30 UTC (15/04/2005, 01:30 MSK) Equalizing product 030 (hydrogen peroxide)
14/04/2005, 21:45 UTC (15/04/2005, 01:45 MSK) The report of crew to the chairman of state commission
14/04/2005; 21:50-22:11 UTC (15/04/2005, 01:50-02:11 MSK) The passage of crew on SK
14/04/2005, 22:11-22:16 UTC (15/04/2005; 02:11-02:16 MSK) Crew are taken up on the elevator
14/04/2005; 22:16-22:41 UTC (15/04/2005, 02:16-02:41 MSK) The embarkation of crew in the spacecraft
15/04/2005; 00:46 UTC (04:46 MSK) Launching RKN

Russian version, Русская версия: На Байконуре заканчиваются последние приготовления к старту.

LAUNCH DAY!!!! Reports to follow as soon as I can get them.

10:29 a.m.: I am at the library; there is just 15 minutes or so until launch! Can’t get NASA TV or anything though, unfortunately. Energiya has put up photos that show crew getting ready and boarding the rocket.

10:45 a.m.: T-minus 1 minute and counting. Launch sequence start.

10:43 a.m.: T minus 3 minutes and counting…!

0046:25 GMT (8:46:25 p.m. EDT Thurs.) Liftoff! Liftoff of the 11th Expedition crew to the International Space Station!
0046 GMT (8:46 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 30 seconds. The Russian Soyuz is maneuvering to the proper heading. All engines are up and running.
0047 GMT (8:47 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 60 seconds. A beautiful dawn blastoff of Soyuz on its trek to space.
0048 GMT (8:48 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 2 minutes, 15 seconds. The four strap-on boosters of the first stage have separated as planned. The second stage core motor continues to fire.
0049 GMT (8:49 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 3 minutes. The safety escape tower and launch shroud have been jettisoned from the atop the Soyuz capsule.
0049 GMT (8:49 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 3 minutes, 30 seconds. No problems have been reported in this climb to orbit.
0050 GMT (8:50 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 4 minutes, 30 seconds. About one minute remains in powered flight for the second stage.
0051 GMT (8:51 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 5 minutes, 10 seconds. The second stage of the Soyuz rocket has shut down and separated. The third stage will complete the job of injecting the Soyuz capsule into Earth orbit.
0052 GMT (8:52 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 6 minutes. Third stage continues to fire.
0053 GMT (8:53 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 7 minutes. Cameras mounted in the crew module of Soyuz showing the three men as they follow checklists and enjoy the ride.
0053 GMT (8:53 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 7 minutes, 30 seconds. Mission control reports that roll, yaw and pitch is normal as the third stage continues to fire.
0054 GMT (8:54 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 8 minutes. Flight remains normal.
0055 GMT (8:55 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 8 minutes, 50 seconds. The third stage engine cutoff has occurred.
0055 GMT (8:55 p.m. EDT Thurs.) T+ 8 minutes, 55 seconds. Capsule separation! The Soyuz spacecraft is flying free after separation from the spent third stage for the journey to the International Space Station.
0056 GMT (8:56 p.m. EDT Thurs.) Russian flight controllers and the crew are exchanging congratulations following an apparent smooth trip to orbit for the Expedition 11 crew.
0057 GMT (8:57 p.m. EDT Thurs.) The Soyuz capsule’s power-generating solar arrays and antennas for navigational and communication systems have been deployed.

11:51 a.m.: I hoped to watch streaming video of the launch on the local library computer network, but forgot it had a firewall blocking this! So the best I could do was go to the Expedition 11 mission status center at Spaceflight Now and refresh the launch page every minute or so for live updates, copy these to my own page and upload it! I had to leave at 11 a.m. so that’s as far as I got. Everything appears to have gone well, so far.

Launch

Energiya photo report: April 15, 2005. Baikonur Cosmodrome. “Soyuz TMA-6 manned spacecraft was launched carrying Expedition Eleven crew to ISS.” Check out the beautiful dawn launch photos!

Novosti Kosmonavtiki №06, 2005: “In flight: Soyuz TMA-6”.

16/4

As the crew are now in orbit, see the Spaceflight section for ISS-11 news.

October

Expedition 11 returned safely to Earth after a successful mission, so the news continues here.

4/10

Angela at the Sergei Krikalev.com forum writes:

Sergei’s post-Expedition 11 rehabilitation

Saw a panel discussion on NASA TV that featured the Expedition 11’s flight surgeon.

He said that the crew will land on the 11th of October, and then spend a few weeks recovering in Russia.

On October 28th, the crew will return to the United States (most likely Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas) for a mission debrief and further physiological testing.

Around November 7th, the rehabilitation program ends, and both men are released to go back to their families.

Russian doctors will monitor Sergei’s long-term health and care upon his return to Earth

10/10

Now that Expedition 11, Sergei Krikalyov and John Phillips, have landed safely, they have a lot of readjusting to do.

Spaceflight Now.com: from the ISS-11 Mission Status Center, 10 October:

A group of Russian military helicopters carrying the recovery forces, including a U.S. flight surgeon and astronaut support personnel, should arrive soon after landing to help the crew exit the capsule.

Each crew member will be placed in special reclining chairs near the capsule for initial medical tests and begin readapting to Earth’s gravity. They will be transferred into a portable medical tent erected near the touchdown point where the three men can remove their spacesuits.

Post-landing plans call for the crew to be flown from the site in helicopters within two hours of landing. They will be taken to the city of Kustanai for an initial welcoming ceremony. Then a Russian military transport plane will fly the crew to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, where their families will meet them.

NASA TV schedule (times are Eastern Daylight Time – GMT −4):

  • 2 p.m. – Expedition 12/11/Spaceflight Participant Farewell Ceremony – JSC (hatch closure scheduled at approximately 2:40 p.m. ET) (Mission Coverage)
  • 5 p.m. – Expedition 11/Spaceflight Participant Undocking from ISS (undocking scheduled at 5:45 p.m. ET) – JSC (Mission Coverage)
  • 7:45 p.m. – Expedition 11/Spaceflight Participant Deorbit Burn and Landing (deorbit burn scheduled at 8:19 p.m. ET; landing scheduled at 9:10 p.m. ET) – JSC and Kazakhstan (Mission Coverage)

11/10

NASA TV schedule:

  • 5:30 a.m. – Expedition 11/Spaceflight Participant Landing Site and Welcoming Celebration Footage B-Roll – JSC via Kustanai, Kazakhstan (Mission Coverage)
  • 12 p.m. – Video File B-roll of Expedition 11/Spaceflight Participant Return to Chkalovsky Airfield, Russia – JSC via Star City, Russia (Mission Coverage)

12/10

From the Russian Federal Space Agency (FKA):

12/10/2005 – The flight of the 11th basic expedition is completed

Yesterday, on 11 October, the crew of the 11th basic expedition – Sergei Krikalyov John Phillips, and space flight participant Gregory Olsen – returned to Zvezdni Gorodok, Star City, after a successful landing. At present the cosmonauts are situated in the dispensary of Yu.A. Gagarin TsPK for rehabilitation after flight. The leader of Roskosmos, Anatolii Perminov, highly praised the work of the crew members, after expressing that only this critical and selfless labor in orbit increases the significance of the International Space Station as one of the largest international projects.

Russian version, Русская версия: Полет 11-й основной экспедиции завершен.

13/10

  • 13/10 On-Orbit Status Report. “RSC-Energiya and a special Russian Commission are investigating a slight pressure drop of the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft’s atmosphere at the time of undocking on 10/10, reported by the crew via radio. Since no telemetry could be received during the usual time of plasma blackout, data stored in the Soyuz DM (Descent Module)’s recorder are being awaited.”
  • Energiya photo-report: October 13, 2005. Star City, Moscow Region. “The House of Cosmonauts in Star City hosted the first press conference of the crews of Expedition 11 and the ninth taxi mission to ISS after their return from orbit.”

From the Russian Federal Space Agency:

13/10/2005 – Press conference of the participants in the 11th basic expedition and ninth expeditions to the ISS

On 13 October of this year, in Zvezdni Gorodok, took place the first postflight press conference of the eleventh basic expedition to the ISS in which participated crew members Sergei Krikalyov, John Philips a participant in space flight of the ninth expedition of Gregory’s visit Olsen. Doctors permitted crew to associate with the journalists only for an hour. Answering a question from the journal Russian Space, Sergei Krikalyov reported that to experience all difficulties of flight it helped the work, and, first of all, work. Gregory Olsen noted that he greatly fell in love with the Russian language, and in his Russian man nature draw force, endurance and intellect.

To the best “space” journalists was presented the book “In Gagarin’s name…”, which the Russian state scientific research Yu.A. Gagarin cosmonauts training test center released, with the support of “Vneshtorgbank – Foreign Trade Bank”.

Russian version, Русская версия: Пресс-конференция участников 11 основной экспедиции и девятой экспедиции посещения на МКС

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №506:

13/10/2005/17:10 – After returning from the ISS, Sergei Krikalyov is not unwilling to fly to the Moon

The returning ISS record holder for the accumulated duration of flight into space, Sergei Krikalyov, is not unwilling to fly to the Moon, reports RIA Novosti.

The commander of ISS Expedition 11, who completed a total of six space flights, reported on this, answering the questions of journalists at Zvezdni Gorodok (Star City).

“The mastery of the Moon is a serious task, and if this program eventuates, I will, with pleasure, participate in it,” he said.

“For me it transpired that I was first of the Russian cosmonauts who participated in flights on the American shuttle. I was fortunate to visit the ISS on the first expedition, and also to begin my flight time at the Russian station Mir,” he continued, after adding that “for the cosmonauts to visit space is only part of the work, and much is still necessary to have time to make on the Earth.”

Russian version, Русская версия: Вернувшийся с МКС Сергей Крикалев не против слетать на Луну.

13/10/2005/17:10 – The ISS crew members described their plans for postflight leave

The members of the crew who returned from the ISS described their plans for postflight leave at the first postflight press conference in Zvyozdnyi Gorodok in Moscow. RIA Novosti reported about this.

Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov most likely will conduct it in Kislovodsk, Кисловодск, and space tourist Gregory Olsen – at his own farm.

“As shows my experience of the previous flights, it is good to conduct leave in the foothills; therefore most likely I will be in Kislovodsk,” noted Sergei Krikalyov.

“But now the postflight process of rehabilitation has only begun, we are found under the observation of doctors, and for us much is in prospect to still write reports”, he added.

“We have the responsibility to write reports about our space flight both in Russia and in the USA. After an endurance flight, American astronauts are given four weeks’ leave,” noted from their side the crewmate of Krikalyov, American astronaut John Phillips.

“I will return to my native city and I will inspect the photographs, which I took in orbit, and then I will go to rest at my farm,” the third space tourist, Gregory Olsen, shared his plans for his leave.

Answering a question from RIA Novosti about which, of the outlined scientific experiments, he had succeeded in carrying out in orbit, Olsen said: “I was very upset that I could not bring my infrared camera to the station. However, I conducted experiments for the European Space Agency on the tolerance of vestibular apparatus, and this experiment will be continued by me in Europe on the centrifuge with the overload into ZZh[?].”

Speaking about the biological experiments, carry out for half a year during his work in orbit, the commander of Expedition 11, Sergei Krikalyov, spoke: “We planted radish two times and gathered the harvest two times, which has already been returned to Earth. And our scientists will explain, does approach this vegetable culture for the cultivation in the course of prolonged space flights.”

Krikalyov explained, that the cultivation of vegetable cultures on ISS will help to select the most suitable vegetable cultures for future flights to other planets.

“This is very important for flights to other planets. The plants grown in orbit could supplement the ration of crews with fresh vegetables,” he explained.

“On board we even had snails, which lived in a special container. But into our task it entered to only ensure the simple with the standard conditions of life in the course of flight, and all further studies with them will be carried out on the Earth – in the course of our work from us the dissection of the simple did not be required to carry out, they simply lived under our observation,” described Krikalyov.

As he added from his side, the third space tourist Gregory Olsen, intended to attract his grandsons to the study of the outer space.

“I am very happy that my daughter and grandsons were in Baikonur during my launch into space, and I hope that I will find motivation for my grandsons so that they also, possibly, would fly to space,” he said.

13/10/2005/14:31 – Cosmonauts of the 11th ISS expedition described the problems with pressure during their return to the Earth

With the return to the Earth of the cosmonauts Sergei Krikalyov, John Phillips and Gregory Olsen, on board the descent vehicle were problems with pressure and airtightness, cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov reported to journalists on Thursday. Interfax reports about this.

“There were small difficulties with the pressure before undocking and problems with airtightness in the process of descent. In principle this was a contingency situation of average complexity,” said Krikalyov during the first press conference of cosmonauts at Zvezdni Gorodok (Star City) after their return from space.

The participants in the press conference noted the clear work of all ground-based services. Soyuz TMA-6 landed flawlessly at the estimated time and in the assigned region. Rescue aircraft and helicopters accompanied the descent vehicle while it was still in the air.

In turn, astronaut NASA John Phillips reported to journalists that his health is improving with each day. “After landing I felt dizzy, although I felt in itself forces. Yesterday I was considerably better, today I am better than yesterday, tomorrow everything will be normal,” said Phillips.

Russian version, Русская версия: Космонавты 11-й экспедиции на МКС рассказали о проблемах с герметичностью при возвращении на Землю.

13/10/2005/00:01 TsPK head physicians: cosmonauts feel normal

The cosmonauts who returned from the orbit the day before delight in the charms of terrestrial life in the company of relatives and close ones. “After Sergei Krikalyov, John Phillips and paying visitor Gregory Olsen were taken the day before into the dispensary of the Zvezdni Gorodok, they were immediately allowed visits from all relatives,” reported Valerii Morgun, the head physician of the center of training cosmonauts (TSPK). Relatives and friends can visit the cosmonauts each day, he refined.

According to the head physician of TsPK, “the rehabilitation occurs according to the plan, all three feel themselves normally.” “Phillips, who endured a rough landing, is somewhat weaker than the rest,” noted Morgun. In contrast to his of associate Krikalyov, the NASA astronaut, who worked in orbit half a year, did not use the Russian means of preventive maintenance before the landing, in particular, the special Chibis pnemovacuum suit. “In American doctors their requirements for the preventive measures; however, astronauts can at will employ Russian means,” emphasized Morgun. Thus acted, in particular, experimental Michael Foale and novice Michael Finke, which as a result returned to the Earth in a good state.

According to the TsPK head physician, the 60-year-old tourist Gregory Olsen, “feels magnificent.” He demonstrated this immediately after the landing, when he ate a pear with pleasure and simultaneously gave a brief interview. The rehabilitative period for Olsen, who stayed in space for 10 days, will be brief – about two weeks.

But doctors will monitor Krikalyov and Phillips in the dispensary for three weeks, after which three weeks of postflight leisure awaits them. The descent ship vehicle Soyuz TMA-6 with three cosmonauts aboard landed on 11 October at 05:09 MSK (Moscow Summer Time). ITAR- TASS reports about this.

Russian version, Русская версия: Главврач ЦПК: космонавты чувствуют себя нормально.

14/10

MSNBC.com: “Space crew weathers a scare during re-entry”.

Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov, the just-returned veteran Russian space traveler who had been the space station’s commander for the past six months, discussed the problem openly during a Moscow news conference on Thursday.

“We had certain problems with pressurization before undocking,” Krikalyov said. He added that there had also been problems with the craft’s airtightness during the descent: “In principle this was an anomalous situation of medium complexity…In fact, it was a fairly serious situation.”

24/10

Expedition 11 will have the traditional meeting at Star City with various officials, journalists and inhabitants on the 27th. From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №509:

24/10/2005/13:41 – Traditional encounter in Zvezdni Gorodok

On 27 October of this year in Zvezdni Gorodok, in the house of cosmonauts, will take place the traditional encounter of cosmonauts, who returned from flight recently, with the leaders of the space branch, journalists, participants in the prelaunch activity and with the inhabitants of Zvezdni Gorodok.

Russian version, Русская версия: Традиционная встреча в Звёздном.

27/10

Energiya photo-report: October 27, 2005 Star City, Moscow Region. “The Star City situated near Moscow hosted the solemn event devoted to meeting with the crew of the 11th Expedition to the International Space Station (ISS-11): Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov and NASA astronaut John Phillips, as well as Gregory Olsen, US citizen, another participant of this space flight, who had returned with them to Earth and worked on the ISS under the 9th Visiting Crew (VC-9) Program.”

28/10

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №510:

28/10/2005/00:01 Krikalyov: the Expedition 11 Crew worked well and orderly on the ISS

In spite of technical complexities, the crew of the 11th expedition on the ISS worked well and orderly, noted Sergei Krikalyov, the commander of the 11th expedition to the ISS, appearing at Zvezdnyi Gorodok in Moscow.

“We did everything possible so as to improve work and life at the Station. And in spite of the technical complexities which periodically appeared, the crew worked well and orderly,” emphasized Krikalyov.

According to him, the original plans with respect to the flight program were “somewhat over-ambitious.” “The work was sufficiently stressful, but we worked with that safety factor, which made it possible to carry out our entire flight program”, said Krikalyov.

In turn, John Phillips, the flight engineer of the 11th ISS crew, noted that “we were capable of solving the enormous tasks, when we work together, in spite of national and linguistic differences.”

“We carried out traditional chemical and biological experiments, but ISS itself is already an experiment. Our experiment passed successfully,” he added.

Finally, Gregory Olsen, the third space tourist, emphasized: “I will never forget Zvezdnyi Gorodok. I love Russia and the Russian people.”

At the formal encounter of the cosmonauts of the 11th ISS crew and the third space tourist, various rewards and gifts were presented to Krikalyov, Phillips and Olsen. In particular, to them were presented certificates of honor, Gagarin emblems, memorable gifts on behalf of the head of the VVS, Vladimir Mikhaylov; a NASA medal; badges of the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics and medals of the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics, which were in honor of cosmonaut German Titov’s 70th anniversary. About this reports RIA News.

Russian version, Русская версия: Крикалев: экипаж 11 экспедиции на МКС работал хорошо и слаженно.

From the Russian Federal Space Agency site:

28/10/2005 – Communication of the press-service of Roskosmos: The crew activity of Basic Expedition 11 on the ISS is acknowledged to be excellent

On 27 October 2005, in the Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, the crew members of ISS-11 – Sergei Krikalyov, John Philips and space flight participant Gregory Olsen – met with the management of the rocket-space branch of Russia, the ISS partners representatives from NASA and ESA, TSPK specialists and representatives of the media. At the encounter Aleksei Krasnov, the chief of the administration of the manned programs of Roskosmos, noted the clear and well-coordinated crew activity in orbit. After which he awarded commemorative emblems of the Federal Space Agency to the crew members of ISS-11 and third “space tourist”.

Russian version, Русская версия: Сообщение пресс-службы Роскосмоса: Работа экипажа 11 основной экспедиции на МКС признана превосходной.

Star City award ceremony, 28/10/2005
Sergei at Star City award ceremony, 28/10/2005

November

1/11

MSNBC.com: “Dangling strap to blame for scary space leak?”, James Oberg. “Russian space officials are unofficially blaming the alarming pressure drop during last month’s landing of the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft on a dangling strap and crew error.” The insulation blanket strap apparently accidently got caught in the descent module hatch, and the crew overlooked this as they were in a hurry due to pressure from specialists back on Earth, who wanted some frozen biological payloads (normally brought back via Shuttle) returned before these thawed out.

3/11

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №511. Sergei apparently did appear in that noodle ad, after all :-(:

03/11/2005/11:50 – A “space advertisement” was shown on Japanese television with the participation of Krikalyov

An advertisment, taken on board the International Space Station, was shown today on Japanese television, writes http://news.izvestia.ru. Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov played the main role. Opposite the window with a view of the Earth, he catches clusters of the dissoluble noodles with his mouth, extracting them with a fork from a small packet. The advertisement was taken for the food company “Nisshin” with the aid of a special camera. It was brought to the ISS at the beginning of October on board the manned Soyuz spacecraft, which delivered in orbit the new basic expedition crew.

During the year it is planned to still make several reels, on each of which has been expended about a million dollars. With surveys deals the Tokyo firm Space Film with the support of the Japanese National Aerospace Agency JAXA.

The President of this company, Satosi Takamatsu said the scene with the fork took more than 30 takes. “He did not think that it would come out so flawlessly. Krikalyov operated at 150%,” he said.

Already, three years ago in Japan an advertisement was transmitted, which was taken in the ISS Russian module for the “Otsuka” pharmaceutical company. They advertised then a tonic beverage produced by it.

Russian version, Русская версия: На японском телевидении вышла «космическая реклама» с участием Крикалева.

December

22/12

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №522:

22/12/2005/00:01 – The Governor of Leningrad region has met Sergei Krikalyov

On 20 December in St.Petersburg, in a building of the government of the Leningrad region, governor Valery Serdjukov met space pilot Sergei Krikalyov, who is undergoing rehabilitation after his recent spaceflight. During the meeting, Sergei Krikalyov returned to the governor of Leningrad region a pendant with the arms of region which was flown into orbit, where it had been stamped with a special emblem. Sergei Krikalyov also put an orbital stamp on a photograph of Serdjukovyh’s family with his full compliments.

As “Businessman”, Valentin Matvienko, the governor of Petersburg, also tried to hand over to the cosmonaut in the spring of this year a souvenir for sending into orbit. But the bronze medal with the image of the Peter and Paul Fortress was too heavy for this purpose. In this sense, regional authorities have appeared more far-sighted, having chosen a souvenir that was lighter.

“Russians Sponsor Space Patrol”, eHam.net.

For the 25th, hams and cosmonauts will operate HF radios. They will use the call sign R3K at the Korolev-based station near Moscow in the Rocket and Space Corporation, Energiya, and RK3DZB at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center ham shack in Star City near Moscow, RK3DZB. Some of the cosmonauts who plan to be at the microphone are Sergei Krikalyov, U5MIR; Yuri Usachev, RW3FU; and Alexander Kaleri, U8MIR.

23/12

From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №522:

23/12/2005/11:53 – Sergei Krikalyov described space to Valentina Matviyenko

Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov, who recently returned to Earth from his spaceflight, gave Valentina Matviyenko a photograph and symbols of Saint Petersburg, that had been flown in orbit. On this to the correspondent of the agency of national news they reported in the Smolnyy press-service. The cosmonaut described to the governor about the difficulties of life at the orbital station, where it is sometimes even complicated to drink a cup of coffee.

“All Petersburgians attentively followed your flight”, said Valentina Matviyenko. “You are hero not by title, but in spirit. I do not doubt, that the features of Petersburg, which are placed in you from childhood, helped you to carry out the heaviest work in orbit. New heroes and idols are necessary to our country today, and Russian cosmonauts are the best example for the generation growing up”.

Valentina Matviyenko also supported the proposal of the North Western department of the federation of cosmonautics of Russia about the creation of the “Ravelin” interactive museum of science and technology in the Petropavlovsk fortress.

Russian version, Русская версия: Сергей Крикалев рассказал Валентине Матвиенко о космосе.

28/12

A posting by Claudio in the “I hope Sergei’s okay!” topic at the Sergei forum:

Hi girls, all well for Sergei.

After the trip in S. Petersburg, Sergei arrived at home in Moscow on December 26.

I have spoken with him yesterday in the evening and he says he is so busy as always. Sergei don’t know the krikalev site but since a long time he don’t use internet. He says “probably they know me more than myself :-)”.

Ciao Claudio

29/12

Sergei was at the opening of the MIR Orbital Station Museum Exhibit in the RKK Energiya museum at Korolev, Moscow. He appears in photos 1 and 3.

Energia press-release: “OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE about building of Mir Orbital Station Museum Exhibit”.

30/12

Sergei was also at TsUP where various officials wished Expedition 12 a Happy New Year during a video conference between TsUP and the ISS. (Sergei appears in the left-hand photo, wearing a grey sweater.)

Energiya photo-report: December 30, 2005. Korolev, Moscow region. “Top managers from the Federal Space Agency and leading companies in the Russian space industry extended their New Year’s greetings to the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 12 crew – Russian cosmonaut Valeri Tokarev and US astronaut William McArthur, who have been working on board the space station since October 3, 2005.”

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