Soyuz TMA-04M

Last updated
Soyuz TMA-04M
Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the ISS a.jpg
Soyuz TMA-04M departs the ISS
Operator Roscosmos
COSPAR ID 2012-022A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 38291
Mission duration4 months, 2 days
Orbits completed~1,945 [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Soyuz-TMA 11F747
Manufacturer Energia
Crew
Crew size3
Members Gennady Padalka
Sergei Revin
Joseph M. Acaba
CallsignAltair
Start of mission
Launch date15 May 2012, 03:01:23 (2012-05-15UTC03:01:23Z) UTC [2] [3]
Rocket Soyuz-FG
Launch site Baikonur 1/5
End of mission
Landing date17 September 2012, 02:53 (2012-09-17UTC02:54Z) UTC [4]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 410 kilometres (250 mi)
Apogee altitude 433 kilometres (269 mi)
Inclination 51.64 degrees
Period 92.86 minutes
Epoch 17 September 2012, 01:22:43 UTC [1]
Docking with ISS
Docking port Poisk zenith
Docking date17 May 2012, 04:36 UTC
Undocking date16 September 2012, 23:09 UTC
Time docked4 months
Soyuz TMA-04M crew.jpg
(l-r) Acaba, Padalka and Revin
Soyuz programme
(Crewed missions)

Soyuz TMA-04M was a spaceflight to Low Earth orbit that transported three members of the Expedition 31 crew to the International Space Station (ISS), which was launched on 15 May 2012 and landed on 17 September 2012. [3] TMA-04M was the Soyuz spacecraft's 113th flight since its initial launch in 1967, and the fourth launch of the improved Soyuz TMA-M series (first launched 7 October 2010). As per the mission plan, the spacecraft remained docked to the space station to serve as an emergency escape vehicle during Expedition 31.

Contents

The mission was successfully launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, 15 May 2012, at 3:01:23 UTC (9:01:23 local time). [5] The Soyuz docked successfully with the ISS on 17 May at 4:36 UTC. [6] The spacecraft carried to the ISS a three-person crew (Gennady Padalka, Russia; Sergei Revin, Russia; Joseph Acaba, United States). [5] The mission landed successfully in Kazakhstan on 17 September 2012, at 2:53 UTC. [4]

Crew

Position [7] [8] Crew Member
Commander Flag of Russia.svg Gennady Padalka, Roscosmos
Expedition 31
Fourth spaceflight
Flight Engineer 1 Flag of Russia.svg Sergei Revin, Roscosmos
Expedition 31
Only spaceflight
Flight Engineer 2 Flag of the United States.svg Joseph M. Acaba, NASA
Expedition 31
Second spaceflight

Backup crew

Position [9] Crew Member [10]
Commander Flag of Russia.svg Oleg Novitskiy, Roscosmos
Flight Engineer 1 Flag of Russia.svg Evgeny Tarelkin, Roscosmos
Flight Engineer 2 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin A. Ford, NASA

Spacecraft

Soyuz TMA-04M was the fourth mission using the upgraded Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft, which has a modernised flight control system and a reduced mass. The spacecraft was designed and manufactured by S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, the largest company of the Russian space industry. [11]

Mission highlights

Soyuz TMA-04M was successfully launched to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, 15 May 2012, at 3:01:23 UTC (9:01:23 local Baikonur time). [5] The spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on Thursday, 17 May at 4:36 UTC, linking to the Poisk docking module. [6]

After the departure of Soyuz TMA-03M on 1 June the crew members of TMA-04M conducted the first portion of Expedition 32 until the commencement of the second portion with the arrival of the remaining crew members aboard Soyuz TMA-05M in mid-July. [6] The spacecraft undocked from the ISS at 23:09 UTC on 16 September and landed at 2:53 UTC on September 17 in Kazakhstan. [4] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-01M</span> 2010 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-01M was a Soyuz flight that transported three members of the Expedition 25 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-01M was the 107th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, and the first flight of the modernized TMA-M series. The spacecraft remained docked to the space station during Expedition 25, to serve as an emergency escape vehicle. The spacecraft's COSPAR ID was 2010-052A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-18</span> 2010 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-18 was a 2010 Soyuz flight to the International Space Station (ISS). TMA-18 was the 105th crewed flight of a Soyuz spacecraft since the first crewed flight in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-19</span> 2010 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-19 was a crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) and is part of the Soyuz programme. It was launched on 15 June 2010 carrying three members of the Expedition 24 crew to the International Space Station, who remained aboard the station for around six months. Soyuz TMA-19 was the 106th crewed flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, since the first mission which was launched in 1967. The spacecraft remained docked to the space station for the remainder of Expedition 24, and for Expedition 25, to serve as an emergency escape vehicle. It undocked from ISS and landed in Kazakhstan on 26 November 2010. It was the 100th mission to be conducted as part of the International Space Station programme since assembly began in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-20</span> 2010 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-20 was a human spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) and was part of the Soyuz programme. It lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on December 15, 2010, and docked with the ISS two days later. The three-person crew of Soyuz TMA-20 – Dmitri Kondratyev, Catherine Coleman and Paolo Nespoli – represented the ISS partner organizations of Roscosmos, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Soyuz TMA-20's crew represented half of the members of Expedition 27; the other three members of the expedition arrived at the station on board Soyuz TMA-21 on April 6, 2011. The COSPAR ID of Soyuz TMA-20 was 2010-067A. It is ISS flight 25S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expedition 27</span> Long-duration mission to the International Space Station

Expedition 27 was the 27th long-duration expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), starting on 16 March 2011. Expedition 27 saw numerous notable events, including the undocking of the Progress M-09M and Kounotori 2 spacecraft, the arrival of the Soyuz TMA-21 and Progress M-10M spacecraft, and the final rendezvous with the ISS of NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour, on its last mission, STS-134. The expedition ended on 23 May 2011 with the departure of the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft, although command of the station was ceremonially handed over to the crew of Expedition 28 on 22 May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-21</span> 2011 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-21 ("Gagarin") was a Soyuz flight to the International Space Station (ISS). It transported three members of the Expedition 27 crew to the ISS, and docked at the station on April 6, 2011. TMA-21 is the 109th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first of which launched in 1967. The Soyuz remained attached to the space station as a lifeboat, throughout the remainder of Expedition 27 and through the end of Expedition 28, and returned to Earth on September 16, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expedition 28</span> Long-duration mission to the International Space Station

Expedition 28 was the 28th long-duration expedition to the International Space Station, and began on 23 May 2011 with the departure of the members of Expedition 27. The first three members of Expedition 28 arrived on the ISS aboard the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft on 4 April 2011, and were joined on 9 June 2011 by the three other crew members, who arrived aboard Soyuz TMA-02M. The expedition saw a number of significant events, including the final Space Shuttle mission, STS-135, which took place in July 2011. Expedition 28 was superseded by Expedition 29 on 16 September 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-02M</span> 2011 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-02M was a space mission that transported three members of the Expedition 28 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-02M was the 110th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft and the second flight of the improved Soyuz-TMA-M series. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station for the Expedition 28 increment to serve as a potential emergency escape vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-22</span> 2011 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-22 was a crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). TMA-22 was the 111th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, and transported three members of the Expedition 29 crew to the ISS. The spacecraft docked to the ISS on 16 November 2011, and remained docked to serve as an emergency escape vehicle until its undocking on 27 April 2012. Soyuz TMA-22 successfully landed in Kazakhstan on 27 April 2012 11:45 GMT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-03M</span> 2011 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-03M was a spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). It launched on 21 December 2011 from Site One at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, carrying three members of Expedition 30 to the ISS. TMA-03M was the 112th flight of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, since the first in 1967, and the third flight of the modernised Soyuz-TMA-M version. The docking with the International Space Station took place at 19:19 Moscow Time on 23 December, three minutes ahead of schedule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expedition 30</span> 30th long-duration mission to the International Space Station

Expedition 30 was the 30th long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The expedition's first three crew members – Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoli Ivanishin – arrived on the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-22 on 16 November 2011, during the last phase of Expedition 29. Expedition 30 formally began on 21 November 2011, with the departure from the ISS of the Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft. The expedition ended on 27 April 2012, as Burbank, Shkaplerov and Ivanishin departed from the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-22, marking the beginning of Expedition 31.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-05M</span> 2012 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-05M was the 114th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft. It was launched on 15 July 2012, transporting three members of the Expedition 32 crew to the International Space Station (ISS). The Soyuz remained docked to the ISS throughout the mission to serve as an emergency escape vehicle. The launch also coincided with the 37th anniversary of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project. Soyuz TMA-05M successfully returned to Earth on 19 November 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-06M</span> 2012 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-06M was a spaceflight to the International Space Station launched on 23 October 2012, transporting three members of the Expedition 33 crew. TMA-06M was the 115th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first flight launching in 1967. Soyuz TMA-06M launch was also the first crewed flight from the remote Site 31 pad since July 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-07M</span> 2012 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-07M was a spaceflight launched to the International Space Station in 2012 which transported three members of the Expedition 34 crew to the station. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station and served as an emergency escape vehicle for the Expedition 35 increment, before returning its crew to Earth in May 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-09M</span> 2013 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-09M was a Russian Soyuz mission to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 36 crew to the space station. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station during Expeditions 36 and 37 to serve as an emergency escape vehicle. The spacecraft landed on 11 November 2013, carrying the same three cosmonauts who were aboard for launch. The crew of Soyuz TMA-09M consisted of Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, Karen Nyberg of NASA and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-12M</span> 2014 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-12M was a 2014 flight to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 39 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-12M was the 121st flight of a Soyuz spacecraft since the first in 1967 and the 38th Soyuz mission to the ISS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-13M</span> 2014 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-13M was a 2014 flight to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 40 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-13M was the 122nd flight of a Soyuz spacecraft since 1967, and the 39th Soyuz mission to the ISS. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station for the Expedition 41 increment to serve as an emergency escape vehicle until its departure in November 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-14M</span> 2014 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-14M was a 2014 flight to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 41 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-14M is the 123rd flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first flight launching in 1967. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station for the Expedition 42 increment to serve as an emergency escape vehicle until undocking and landing as scheduled in March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-15M</span> 2014 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-15M was a 2014 flight to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 42 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-15M was the 124th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first flight launching in 1967. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station for the Expedition 43 increment, serving as an emergency escape vehicle until departing and returning to Earth as scheduled in June 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz TMA-16M</span> 2015 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Soyuz TMA-16M was a 2015 flight to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 43 crew to the station. TMA-16M was the 125th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first having launched in 1967.

References

  1. 1 2 Peat, Chris (17 September 2012). "SOYUZ-TMA 4M - Orbit". Heavens Above. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. William Harwood (February 12, 2012). "Russia Orders Soyuz Delays In Wake Of Test Mishap". SpaceflightNow.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Three New Crew Members En Route to Station". Latest News. NASA. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Expedition 32 Lands Safely in Kazakhstan". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Harwood, William (May 18, 2012). "Latest manned space launch safely takes flight to orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Harwood, William (May 17, 2012). "Three-man crew docks at International Space Station". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  7. NASA HQ (2009). "NASA and its International Partners Assign Space Station Crews". NASA. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  8. NASA HQ (2010). "NASA And Partners Assign Crews For Upcoming Space Station Missions". NASA. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  9. "Орбитальные полёты". 2012.
  10. NASA (2012). "Expedition 31 Backup Crew Members Field Questions from Roscosmos Officials". NASA.
  11. Soyuz TMA-M manned transport vehicle of a new series Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine Energia Corporation
  12. "Soyuz TMA-04M Spacecraft Undocks from Space Station". RIA Novosti. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.