Jacques van Oene
April 17th 05, 04:45 PM
Press Release
N°21-2005
Paris, 17 April 2005
The Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft carrying European Space Agency astronaut Roberto
Vittori on the ENEIDE mission and the two members of the ISS Expedition 11
crew docked with the International Space Station (ISS) today at the Russian
docking compartment Pirs at [04:20] Central European summer time (CEST).
Following the scheduled post-docking checks, the hatch between the
spacecraft and the ISS was opened at [07:12] CEST.
Soyuz TMA-6 lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days
ago on Flight 10S. During the journey, Vittori, an Italian, was the Soyuz
Flight Engineer, taking an active role alongside the Soyuz Commander,
Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, in piloting and docking the spacecraft.
Krikalev was a member of the very first ISS expedition crew in 2000/2001,
and will be the ISS Expedition 11 Commander. The third crewmember, NASA
astronaut John L. Phillips, will be the ISS Expedition 11 Flight Engineer.
Vittori is the first European astronaut to fly to the ISS for a second time,
having made his first flight on the Marco Polo mission in 2002. During his
8-day stay on the ISS, he will carry out an extensive experiment programme
in the fields of human physiology, biology, technology and education. One of
his first tasks will be to transfer experiment equipment and
samples from Soyuz TMA-6 to the ISS. Other experiment equipment for the
mission was transported to the ISS on the unmanned Progress M-52 supply
ship, launched on 28 February.
The ENEIDE mission is being co-sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Defence
and the region of Lazio in the framework of an agreement between ESA and the
Russian federal space agency, Roscosmos. Many of the experiments were
developed by Italian researchers and built by Italian industry and research
institutions. In addition to the experimental programme of the ENEIDE
mission, time has been set aside for Vittori to take part in communication
activities and emergency ISS training on his first day on the station.
His programme of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and
educational activities will continue throughout the mission, which concludes
when he returns with the ISS Expedition 10 crew, Leroy Chiao and Salizhan
Sharipov, with a scheduled landing in Kazakhstan at midnight (Central
European Time) on 24/25 April. They will return in Soyuz TMA-5, which has
been stationed at the ISS with the Expedition 10 crew for the past six
months, serving as an emergency lifeboat. Vittori will play an important
role in the reentry, descent and landing on the return flight in Soyuz
TMA-5, which flew the Expedition 10 crew to the ISS last October. Soyuz
TMA-6 will remain docked with the ISS for the next six months, becoming the
lifeboat for the ISS Expedition 11 crew.
Information on the ENEIDE mission and its progress can be obtained from
www.esa.int/eneide and www.spaceflight.esa.int/eneide/status
For further information please contact:
Franco Bonacina
ESA Media Relations Division
Paris (France)
Tel: +33 1 5369 7155
Fax: +33 1 5369 7690
Dieter Isakeit
Erasmus User Centre and Communication Office
Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes
Noordwijk (The Netherlands)
Tel: +31 71 565 5451
Fax: +31 71 565 8008
e-mail:
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
N°21-2005
Paris, 17 April 2005
The Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft carrying European Space Agency astronaut Roberto
Vittori on the ENEIDE mission and the two members of the ISS Expedition 11
crew docked with the International Space Station (ISS) today at the Russian
docking compartment Pirs at [04:20] Central European summer time (CEST).
Following the scheduled post-docking checks, the hatch between the
spacecraft and the ISS was opened at [07:12] CEST.
Soyuz TMA-6 lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days
ago on Flight 10S. During the journey, Vittori, an Italian, was the Soyuz
Flight Engineer, taking an active role alongside the Soyuz Commander,
Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, in piloting and docking the spacecraft.
Krikalev was a member of the very first ISS expedition crew in 2000/2001,
and will be the ISS Expedition 11 Commander. The third crewmember, NASA
astronaut John L. Phillips, will be the ISS Expedition 11 Flight Engineer.
Vittori is the first European astronaut to fly to the ISS for a second time,
having made his first flight on the Marco Polo mission in 2002. During his
8-day stay on the ISS, he will carry out an extensive experiment programme
in the fields of human physiology, biology, technology and education. One of
his first tasks will be to transfer experiment equipment and
samples from Soyuz TMA-6 to the ISS. Other experiment equipment for the
mission was transported to the ISS on the unmanned Progress M-52 supply
ship, launched on 28 February.
The ENEIDE mission is being co-sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Defence
and the region of Lazio in the framework of an agreement between ESA and the
Russian federal space agency, Roscosmos. Many of the experiments were
developed by Italian researchers and built by Italian industry and research
institutions. In addition to the experimental programme of the ENEIDE
mission, time has been set aside for Vittori to take part in communication
activities and emergency ISS training on his first day on the station.
His programme of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and
educational activities will continue throughout the mission, which concludes
when he returns with the ISS Expedition 10 crew, Leroy Chiao and Salizhan
Sharipov, with a scheduled landing in Kazakhstan at midnight (Central
European Time) on 24/25 April. They will return in Soyuz TMA-5, which has
been stationed at the ISS with the Expedition 10 crew for the past six
months, serving as an emergency lifeboat. Vittori will play an important
role in the reentry, descent and landing on the return flight in Soyuz
TMA-5, which flew the Expedition 10 crew to the ISS last October. Soyuz
TMA-6 will remain docked with the ISS for the next six months, becoming the
lifeboat for the ISS Expedition 11 crew.
Information on the ENEIDE mission and its progress can be obtained from
www.esa.int/eneide and www.spaceflight.esa.int/eneide/status
For further information please contact:
Franco Bonacina
ESA Media Relations Division
Paris (France)
Tel: +33 1 5369 7155
Fax: +33 1 5369 7690
Dieter Isakeit
Erasmus User Centre and Communication Office
Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes
Noordwijk (The Netherlands)
Tel: +31 71 565 5451
Fax: +31 71 565 8008
e-mail:
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info