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Soyuz glitch prompts manual docking to space station BY JUSTIN RAY SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: October 16, 2004 Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov grabbed manual control of the Soyuz spacecraft during the final minutes of today's rendezvous with the International Space Station, overriding the autopilot that was supposed to guide the capsule throughout the approach and docking.
The linkup, which occurred a few seconds before 12:16 a.m. EDT (0416 GMT), completed a two-day trek from the Kazakhstan launch pad to the International Space Station for Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao, flight engineer Sharipov and visiting cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. Chiao and Sharipov will call the orbiting lab complex home for the next 191 days, replacing Expedition 9 commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineer Michael Fincke who have been living on the station since April. "We'll take good care of this new crew, show them the ropes, show them the ship, give them a great handover and they can carry on the fine traditions that we've established with all of our Expedition crews," Fincke told former station commander Ken Bowersox in a space-to-ground chat before docking. "It'll be sad to be leaving but happy to see our families," Fincke continued. "I know but it still feels like somebody is kicking you out of your apartment, doesn't it?" Bowersox quipped. "I remember you telling me that earlier and you're absolutely right. You are absolutely right. But I guess that is par for the course," Fincke replied. Russian flight controllers are investigating why the Soyuz's velocity was higher than expected as it moved closer to the station under the control of the capsule's KURS automated rendezvous and docking system. The problem triggered an alarm inside the crew module and mission officials stationed near Moscow ordered Sharipov take manual control. Sharipov, a veteran cosmonaut who flew aboard a space shuttle mission in 1998 that visited Russia's space station Mir, put his extensive Soyuz piloting training to use. He maneuvered the capsule into alignment with the Pirs docking module while the Soyuz and space station soared 225 miles above Earth in darkness. With a firm grasp on the situation, the Soyuz commander flew the spacecraft down the precise corridor for a smooth docking at sunrise. "The docking today, from my point-of-view, looked excellent," Fred Gregory, NASA's deputy administrator and former shuttle astronaut, told reporters from the Russian control site. "I was observing the transition from automatic rendezvous to manual and it appeared seamless. It appeared that the crew was extremely well trained. There was no excitement. It appeared extremely routine." Three hours following docking -- after orbiting the Earth twice -- the hatchway between the Soyuz and station was opened, allowing the five crew members to unite. It was a delightful moment for the Expedition 9 crew after spending the past six months alone aboard the station. Congratulatory calls from VIPs in Russian mission control followed before the space fliers reviewed safety procedures and began a busy eight-day changing of the guard between resident crews. Chiao says the time spent with the outgoing crew will be critical. "I think it's absolutely essential," he said during a pre-flight interview. "Of course I haven't experienced it firsthand, but everything that I've heard and just my perception of it is that it's absolutely essential because no matter how good the training is on the ground it's never the same as being on the actual vehicle. "Also, those guys, they've been up there for six months, and they know the ins and outs of the station, they know the little surprises, the 'gotchas,' and things like that, and they will spend that week handing over to us all their knowledge. And that'll really give us an edge on hitting the ground running." Other activities scheduled include repairs to the Russian oxygen generator using spare parts brought up on the Soyuz and work on the troublesome cooling system inside one of the American spacewalk suits aboard the station. Rookie cosmonaut Shargin, a Russian Space Forces engineer, will carry out a science research program aboard the station over the next week before returning to Earth with the departing Expedition 9 crew. The Soyuz TMA-4 capsule parked at the Zarya module will ferry the trio home on the night of October 23, landing in Kazakhstan at 0032 GMT (8:32 p.m. EDT).
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The Russian Soyuz TMA-5 capsule successfully docks to the International Space Station, delivering the Expedition 10 crew for its half-year mission. (3min 21sec file)
This longer-length broadband clip follows the Soyuz TMA-5 capsule's approach and docking to the station's Pirs module. (8min 47sec file)
Russian and U.S. space officials hold a post-docking press conference from the mission control center outside Moscow. (23min 04sec file)
The Russian Soyuz rocket blasts off from Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying the Expedition 10 crew International Space Station for a six-month mission. (2min 25sec file)
This longer-length broadband clip follows the launch of Expedition 10 from the final minute of the countdown through deployment of the Soyuz capsule from the third stage. (10min 15sec file)
The crew members participate in pre-launch traditions before departing their quarters and head for the suitup facility. (2min 01sec file)
After donning their launch and entry spacesuits, each crew member's suit undergoes pressure, communications and other checks. (4min 07sec file)
A delegation of Russian and American officials talk with the crew before departing for the launch pad. (3min 08sec file)
The three space fliers depart the suitup facility and board the bus that will drive them to the launch pad. (1min 52sec file)
Crowds welcome the three-man Soyuz crew upon arrival at the launch pad for boarding the spacecraft. (1min 19sec file)
A brief preview of the Expedition 10 mission aboard the International Space Station is provided in this narrated video. (5min 03sec file)
This narrated biography offers an interest glimpse at the backgrounds of Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao and flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov. (4min 43sec file)
