Spaceflight Now Home



Spaceflight Now +



Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers.

Soyuz leaves ISS
The Russian Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft with the Expedition 10 crew undocks from the International Space Station's Pirs module for the capsule's relocation to another docking port. (2min 19sec file)
 Play video

Roll maneuver
After backing away from the space station, the Soyuz capsule performs a roll maneuver for alignment to prepare for linkup with the new docking port. (2min 04sec file)
 Play video

Earth views
Spectacular views of the Russian Soyuz capsule flying over the Earth were captured by station cameras during the move between docking ports. (3min 35sec file)
 Play video

Successful docking
Expedition 10 returns to the space station with a successful docking to the Zarya control module's Earth-facing docking port, completing the Soyuz relocation. (1min 50sec file)
 Play video

ISS view of docking
External television cameras on the International Space Station provide views of the Soyuz's final approach and docking to Zarya. (3min 34sec file)
 Play video

Mission overview
A brief preview of the Expedition 10 mission aboard the International Space Station is provided in this narrated video. (5min 03sec file)
 Play video

Expedition 10 crew
This narrated biography offers an interest glimpse at the backgrounds of Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao and flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov. (4min 43sec file)
 Play video

Become a subscriber
More video



International Space Station crew takes a ride in Soyuz
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: November 29, 2004

The two-man crew of the International Space Station left its orbital home today, taking a brief ride in a Russian Soyuz capsule to move the craft from one docking port to another.


The Soyuz capsule undocks from the Pirs module. Credit: NASA TV/Spaceflight Now
 
Strapped into the Soyuz TMA-5 capsule's descent module, Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao and flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov undocked from the station's Pirs module at 4:32 a.m. EST (0932 GMT), about three minutes after departure commands were issued.

The capsule, which launched the crew six weeks ago, backed away from the station for several minutes. Once reaching a distance of 100 feet, Soyuz moved sideways about 45 feet to face the Zarya control module's docking port. After rotating for good alignment, the spacecraft began its approach and successfully docked to its new parking spot at 4:53 a.m. EST (0953 GMT). Hooks and latches were engaged over the following 10 minutes to firmly connect the capsule and station.

The 21-minute trip marked Expedition 10's first time away from the station since arriving at the outpost October 16.

The Soyuz relocation clears the Pirs module for use as an airlock during two Russian-based spacewalks next year by Chiao and Sharipov. The capsule wasn't able to dock with Zarya last month because the previous Soyuz for Expedition 9 was attached to that port.

In advance of today's event, the space station's systems and modules had to be prepped for crew's departure. Hatches between the modules were closed, the Progress 15P cargo freighter was sealed up and onboard systems configured for autonomous operations.

The last such Soyuz move occurred during Expedition 4.

Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: SOYUZ CAPSULE UNDOCKS FROM PIRS MODULE QT
VIDEO: ROLL MANEUVER COMPLETED BY THE CAPSULE QT
VIDEO: SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF SOYUZ FLYING OVER EARTH QT
VIDEO: SUCCESSFUL DOCKING TO THE RUSSIAN ZARYA MODULE QT
VIDEO: VIEWS OF APPROACH AND DOCKING FROM ISS CAMERAS QT
SUBSCRIBE NOW