US-Russian Crew Docks at Space Station After Super-Fast Flight

[dreb13]

New US-Russian Crew Docks at Space Station After Super-Fast Flight

If I recall correctly, Jon Lear has speculated that it doesn't take 3 days to get to the International Space Station and that NASA, as usual, has been lying to us.  I believe Jon stated that it only takes a few hours to get to the ISS...just like the return flight time

Well, it was announced today that the latest trip to the ISS via a Russian Soyuz Spacecraft took ONLY 6 HOURS!!  They apparently tried a new technique for the 35th mission to the ISS.

A Soyuz rocket successfully delivered a trio of new residents to the International Space Station on the first-ever "express" flight to the orbiting laboratory.

The Russian rocket carrying NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Misurkin and Pavel Vinogradov docked with the station on time at 10:28 p.m. EDT (0228 March 29 GMT) while both spacecraft flew high over the Pacific Ocean after a history-making six-hour flight.

"Expedition 35 now has a six member crew on board the space station,"NASA spokesman Josh Byerly said during the space agency's live commentary of the docking.

It has been a long day for the crew. Because of the launch's accelerated timescale, Misurkin, Vinogradov and Cassidy will not have had the chance to rest for 20 hours by the time they settle in for the first night in their new home.

The Soyuz TMA-08M's launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome went smoothly with liftoff occurring at 4:43 p.m. EDT (2043 GMT). The three spaceflyers will stay on board the orbiting outpost until they return to Earth in September. [Launch Photos: Soyuz Rocket's 'Express' Flight to Station]

Before now, manned trips to the space station have taken at least two days, but with the docking of this ship just six hours after liftoff, marks the beginning of a new kind of mission that saves time and money, NASA officials have said.

"In my opinion, our mission is just next little step on the way, on the way to the moon, Mars, and I am very happy to do this step," Misurkin said in a preflight interview with NASA.

Russia's unmanned Progress cargo ships have made these express dockings before, but using the method for a crewed flight prevents the spaceflyers from spending extra time in a crowded capsule. Officials with the NASA also explained that these trips save money because a quicker flight means that Mission Control personnel will be on duty for a shorter amount of time.

I think Z might have more information on this in the Space Mall thread  (if it was ever recreated here)

[zorgon]

Well, it was announced today that the latest trip to the ISS via a Russian Soyuz Spacecraft took ONLY 6 HOURS!!  They apparently tried a new technique for the 35th mission to the ISS.

I think Z might have more information on this in the Space Mall thread  (if it was ever recreated here)

Ah Disclosure at last

Yeah we had that before 


ESA Mission: Expedition 9/Soyuz 8
Vehicle: Soyuz TMA-4
Undocking: Oct. 23, 2004, 4:08 p.m. CDT
Landing: Oct. 23, 2004, 7:36 p.m. CDT

3 HOURS 28 MINUTES

They must have had a party to get to

People always think the Russians are behind us and out for the count. Funny thing that they can always do more and better

Maybe Pegassus needs to find an insider in RosKosmos   even if its only for the non classified stuff. I will see what I can do