Soyuz Arrives at Space Station – Both Solar Panels Now Deployed
Soyuz Launched From Baikonur
“The Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft docked to the International Space Station at 10:11 p.m. EDT while flying over the Pacific Ocean. Expedition 41 Commander Max Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Flight Engineers Reid Wiseman of NASA and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency will welcome Soyuz crew. Coverage of hatch opening begins on NASA TV at 11:30 p.m. EDT.”
“Three crew members representing the United States and Russia are on their way to the International Space Station after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:25 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 25. “
NASA Update: Upon reaching its preliminary orbit following a flawless launch, only one of two power-producing solar arrays on the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft deployed. Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev and Flight Engineers Barry Wilmore and Elena Serova are in no danger as they prepare for docking to the space-facing Poisk module of the International Space Station at 10:15 p.m. EDT The crew aboard the Soyuz and Russian flight controllers discussed the status of the spacecraft which is otherwise in perfect shape. Russian engineers believe the Soyuz can reach the International Space Station for a nominal docking later today as they continue to review data and troubleshoot the issue with the port array. Two rendezvous burns of the Soyuz engine to fine-tune its path to the station have been conducted normally.
Update: The slight jar of docking appears to allowed the solar panel to deploy. More to come.
Soyuz Crew Arrive Safely at the ISS after Solar Array Deployment Issue, SpaceRef
“Astronauts and Cosmonauts will tell you that no launch is routine, you have to prepare for every contingency. That was clear yesterday when after launch one of the two solar panel arrays on the Soyuz failed to deploy. It wasn’t, as it turns out a serious issue, as the Soyuz docked with the ISS safely. And it seems the slight jar of docking seemingly caused the array to suddenly deploy.”
What’s the record time for launch to docking? I know Gemini, back in the mid-’60s did 1st orbit dockings, and Apollos did it in a fractions of an orbit from the Moon, but which did it in the shortest time?
The record-holder is Gemini 11: 1 hr 34 min from launch to docking. This was the only first-rev docking demonstrated during Gemini. The fastest time for an Apollo LM from lunar liftoff to docking was close to this record: 1 hr 47 min for Apollo 14.
Thanks!
Interesting the way a lunar orbit at around 100 km, due to lower velocity required, take about 2 hours, while an Earth orbit at 200 km only takes about an hour and a half.
I remembered to hit “reply” this time…
There’s an interesting equation that shows that the period of a low orbit is proportional to 1/(square root of density of the central body). The density of the Moon is only 3.34 g/cm^3, as opposed to 5.52 g/cm^3 for Earth; hence the longer period of a low lunar orbit. Another consequence of the equation: since asteroids often are essentially rubble and so have low density, a grazing asteroid orbit can have a longer period than a low Earth orbit.
Complicating the orbital dynamics is the usual very non-spherical shape of the asteroid. The basic formula is exact for a perfect sphere. I would burn out my slide rule with 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
http://media2.s-nbcnews.com…
And was the launch window only two seconds (or something very short)? Tough to plan in advance for Florida but then Kazakhstan has no weather.
I wonder what will be the result if the panel will not deploy. The soyuz successfully delivered its crew and would quite likely be fine to return a crew. But, will NASA and Russia allow the ship to become a lifeboat and later return a crew rotation? Will Russia have to supply a replacement Soyuz? This will be a blow to Russia’s already faded reputation.
1/2 hour after docking the wing popped out and locked and everyone seems to be satisfied.
It’s an indication of how much Soyuz has improved, I suppose; having only one solar panel was a LOM for Soyuz 1.
Can it get the capsule back on one array?
As does the Japanese cargo ship. Seems sensible as long as they can generate sufficient power. Fewer moving parts to get stuck.
Back in 1973 Skylab had its outer skin ripped off during launch. One of the solar arrays was torn away. The other was trapped by twisted strapping tangled over it. In a series of amazing and dangerous spacewalks the crew cut the strap, and using a tether lasso they yanked out the array. They also set up a tent sun shield to cool the ship down.
Trapped Array:
Repair in space:
Better than Maaco:
Coming in on one wing and a prayer.