Soyuz TMA-3 manned spacecraft launch to the ISS

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
about the Soyuz TMA-3 manned spacecraft launch to the ISS



October 18, 2003. Baikonur Cosmodrome

The Russian Soyuz TMA-3 manned transport spacecraft was launched. It is the
third spacecraft of a new modification developed at S.P. Korolev Rocket &
Space Corporation Energia on the basis of the Soyuz TM spacecraft in
accordance with the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and the USA.
The launch of the Souyz-FG integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-3
spacecraft was accomplished at 09:38:03 Moscow summer time.
The launch is intended to deliver the expedition crew-8 (ISS-8) to the
International Space Station, to carry out a planned replacement of
expedition crew-7 and the Soyuz TMA-2, which has been operating within the
International Space Station since April 28, 2003, performing functions of
the crew rescue vehicle.
The launch objective is also to carry out activities on board the orbital
complex under the ISS visiting crew 5 program (VC-5), including performance
of space experiments and researches within the Servantes project; solution
of tasks of station's expedition crew logistics support.
The Russian Soyuz TMA manned spacecraft now deliver ISS expedition crews to
the station and return them to the ground in the absence of the U.S.
Orbiters in connection with NASA Administration decision to suspend Shuttle
flights after the crash of the U.S. Columbia Orbiter.
At the present time the station manned flight implementation is supported
exclusively by Russian Soyuz TMA manned spacecraft and Progress M and
progress M1 cargo vehicles. The size of the ISS expedition crew is reduced
to two persons, the complement of ascent and descent cargoes is defined by
the requirements of the revised flight program of the station.
The Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft crew includes Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Kaleri
(commander, instructor-test cosmonaut of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, 4th space
flight) NASA's astronaut Michael Foale (flight engineer-2, 6th space flight)
and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Pedro Duque, citizen of Spain,
(flight engineer-1, 2nd space flight).
In accordance with the ISS flight program the spacecraft flight is
designated as 7S.
The main tasks of the ISS-8 expedition a replacement of the ISS-7
expedition crew, providing the station manned flight mode for planned 194
days till arrival of the next crew, including implementation of operations
on docking and undocking of Russian Soyuz TMA, Progress M, Progress M1
spacecraft of transport-engineering support in line with the flight program
for 2003-2004, implementation of research-application studies and
experiments, as well as performance of work under the visiting crew (VC-5)
program and commercial contracts.
The spacecraft has been injected into a near-earth orbit with an inclination
of 51.66?, minimum and maximum altitudes of 194.1 km and 244.4 km,
respectively, the revolution is 88.66 min.
The Expedition crew ISS-7: Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko (commander)
and U.S. astronaut Edward Lu (flight engineer) have performed required
operations to prepare the orbital complex for docking.
The spacecraft docking is slated for October 20, 2003. The contact to the
Pirs module docking compartment port of the ISS orbital complex is at
approximately 11:16.
The Soyuz-FG/Soyuz TMA-3 complex preparation was supervised by the Technical
Management ( Technical Manager - Yu.P. Semenov, Academician of RAS, General
Designer of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia).
The decision on the launch was made by the State Board based on the
conclusion of the Technical Management on the readiness of the complex and
ground infrastructure elements involved in the ISS program implementation.
The Technical Management includes General Designers and directors of prime
contractors - developers and manufacturers of the complex's main components,
systems and units.
The launch was watched by Alexander Vershbow, Ambassador of the United
States of America in Russia, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, ESA Director
General Jean-Jacques Dordain, Juan Costa Climent, Minister of Science and
Technology, deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of RF,
deputies of the Congress of Spain, representatives of Rosaviakosmos, NASA,
ESA and other foreign space agencies, as well as representatives of the
leading Russian and foreign information agencies and TV companies.
The spacecraft flight is commanded by the Lead Operational Control Team
(LOCT) at the Mission Control Center (MCC-M), Moscow area, working in close
cooperation with the specialists of the U.S. Mission Control Center
(Houston).
The LOCT includes the managers and leading specialists from S.P. Korolev RSC
Energia, experts from other enterprises and organizations.



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Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info