TORU

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An expedition flight engineer practices docking with TORU rendezvous system in the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS) in preparation for the docking of the Progress 13 TORU docking system.jpg
An expedition flight engineer practices docking with TORU rendezvous system in the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS) in preparation for the docking of the Progress 13
Spektr module solar array after the collision from the TORU test Damaged Spektr solar array.jpg
Spektr module solar array after the collision from the TORU test

TORU (Russian : Телеоператорный Режим Управления, lit. 'Teleoperator Control Mode') [1] is a manual docking system for Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft that serves as a backup to the automatic Kurs system. [2] It was used on the former Mir space station and is currently in use on the International Space Station. The TORU system became known to the public in 1997 when it was used during the manual approach of Progress M-34 to Mir that ended up with a dangerous collision. It was an approach of a previously used Progress spacecraft with the purpose of research work on further improvement of TORU.

TORU has two joysticks which can be used to manually fly the ship. The left joystick is used to control the movement of the ship (translation) and the right joystick is used to control its orientation (rotation). The system also includes a camera mounted on the docking spacecraft and provides visual feedback when the spacecraft is remotely controlled from the station to which it is docking. TORU also transfers sounds from the spacecraft that may provide indirect information about the docking process. [3]

While ships are sufficiently close when docking to make signal travel delay insignificant, cosmonauts claim that TORU has a certain delay when operating the ship from the space station remotely. [4] Some radio amateurs think they have observed TORU docking signals. [5]

TORU was first tested in 1993 (Progress M-15) [6] and actually used next year to dock Progress M-24 (after two unsuccessful attempts to dock automatically). [7] Despite the 1997 year collision, it was used same year again to dock the next Progress spacecraft, Progress M-35, after Mir board computer failed. [8] TORU was also used in many later missions (Progress M-53, Progress M-67, Progress M1-4 and possibly others).

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Shuttle–<i>Mir</i> program 1993–1998 collaborative Russia–US space program

The Shuttle–Mir program was a collaborative 11-mission space program between Russia and the United States that involved American Space Shuttles visiting the Russian space station Mir, Russian cosmonauts flying on the Shuttle, and an American astronaut flying aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to engage in long-duration expeditions aboard Mir.

<i>Buran</i> (spacecraft) Soviet winged orbital vehicle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spektr</span>

Spektr was the fifth module of the Mir Space Station. The module was designed for remote observation of Earth's environment containing atmospheric and surface research equipment. Spektr also had four solar arrays which generated about half of the station's electrical power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurs (docking navigation system)</span> System of automated tracking

Kurs is a radio control system used by the Soviet and later Russian space program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expedition 25</span>

Expedition 25 was the 25th long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Expedition 25 began with the Soyuz TMA-18 undocking on 25 September 2010. Three new crewmembers arrived aboard the ISS 10 October 2010 on Soyuz TMA-01M to join Douglas Wheelock, Fyodor Yurchikhin and Shannon Walker, and formed the full six member crew of Expedition 25. NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock accepted command of Expedition 25 on 22 September 2010, taking over from Russia's Aleksandr Skvortsov. The departure of Wheelock, Walker and Yurchikhin on 25 November 2010 marked the official end of Expedition 25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M-01M</span>

Progress M-01M, identified by NASA as Progress 31P, was a Progress spacecraft used to resupply the International Space Station. It was the first flight of the Progress-M 11F615A60, which featured a TsVM-101 digital flight computer and MBITS digital telemetry system, in place of the earlier analogue systems. It was the first Progress-M 11F615A60 spacecraft, and had the serial number 401.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M1-5</span> Progress-M1 spacecraft launched in 2001 to autonomously deorbit the Mir space station

Progress M1-5 was the Progress spacecraft which was launched by Russia in 2001 to deorbit the fifteen-year-old Mir space station in a controlled fashion over a remote area of the southern Pacific Ocean otherwise Mir's orbit would have decayed uncontrolled over time, with debris potentially landing in a populated area. The Russian Aviation and Space Agency, Rosaviakosmos, was responsible for the mission.

Progress M-67 was a Progress spacecraft which was used for the Progress 34P flight to resupply the International Space Station. It was a Progress-M 11F615A55 spacecraft, with the serial number 367. Its flight to the ISS marked the final flight of the Progress-M 11F615A55 model, which was retired in favour of the modernised Progress-M 11F615A60.

Progress M-15 was a Russian uncrewed cargo spacecraft which was launched in 1992 to resupply the Mir space station. The thirty-third of sixty-four Progress spacecraft to visit Mir, it used the Progress-M 11F615A55 configuration, and had the serial number 215. It carried supplies including food, water and oxygen for the EO-12 crew aboard Mir, as well as equipment for conducting scientific research, and fuel for adjusting the station's orbit and performing manoeuvres. It also transported the Mak 2 satellite, which was deployed from Mir on 20 November. TORU manual docking system was first tested in this mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M-05M</span>

Progress M-05M, identified by NASA as Progress 37P, is a Progress spacecraft launched by the Russian Federal Space Agency in April 2010 to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft carried fresh food and supplies for the ISS crew. Progress M-05M also hauled some special care packages for the station crew that included confectioneries, books and new movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M-06M</span>

Progress M-06M, identified by NASA as Progress 38P, is a Russian Progress spacecraft which was launched in June 2010 to resupply the International Space Station. It was the 38th Progress to dock with the space station and the third of year 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M-08M</span> Supply vehicle for the International Space Station

Progress M-08M, identified by NASA as Progress 40P, is a Progress spacecraft which was used to resupply the International Space Station. It was the eighth Progress-M 11F615A60 spacecraft to be launched, the fifth for the year 2010. The spacecraft was manufactured by RKK Energia, and was operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency. It arrived at the space station on 30 October 2010 whilst the Expedition 25 crew was aboard, and departed during Expedition 26 on 24 January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M-34</span> Russian uncrewed cargo spacecraft of 1997

Progress M-34 was a Russian uncrewed cargo spacecraft which was launched in 1997 to resupply the Mir space station, and which subsequently collided with Mir during a docking attempt, resulting in significant damage to the space station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M-24</span>

Progress M-24 was a Russian uncrewed cargo spacecraft which was launched in 1994 to resupply the Mir space station; causing minor damage to the station as the result of a collision during a failed attempt to dock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M-17M</span>

Progress M-17M, identified by NASA as Progress 49P, was a Progress spacecraft used by Roskosmos to resupply the International Space Station during 2012. The seventeenth Progress-M 11F615A60 spacecraft to launch, it had the serial number 417 and was built by RKK Energia. It was the 130th launch to the ISS and the twentieth Russian space launch in 2012. It was also the eleventh mission for the R-7 family of rockets since the beginning of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress MS-01</span> 2015 Russian resupply spaceflight to the ISS

Progress MS-01, identified by NASA as Progress 62P was a Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015. It was launched on 21 December 2015, to deliver cargo to the ISS. Progress MS-01 is the first vehicle in the Progress-MS series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress MS-05</span> 2017 Russian resupply spaceflight to the ISS

Progress MS-05, identified by NASA as Progress 66P, was a Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress MS-15</span> 2020 Russian resupply spaceflight to the ISS

Progress MS-15, Russian production No. 444, identified by NASA as Progress 76P, was a Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). This was the 167th flight of a Progress spacecraft.

References

  1. "Zarya FGB - Kosmonavtka". Archived from the original on 2 May 2007.
  2. "MIR Space Station Toru Guidance System". Hightechscience.org. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  3. "Progress cargo ship". Russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  4. "HSF - International Space Station". Spaceflight.nasa.gov. 2003-07-29. Archived from the original on 2003-07-13. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  5. Sven Grahn. "TORU signals identified?". Svengrahn.pp.se. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  6. "Россия. Полет орбитального комплекса "Мир"" [Russia. The flight of the Mir orbital complex] (in Russian). Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  7. "Россия. Полет орбитального комплекса "Мир"" [Russia. The flight of the orbital complex "Mir"] (in Russian). Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  8. "ПИЛОТИРУЕМЫЕ ПОЛЕТЫ" [Planned Flights] (in Russian). Archived from the original on January 14, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2015.