360 Degree Video Records the Moment Soyuz TMA Rocket Launch Into Space
On March 19th, 2016, three astronauts, Jeff Williams of NASA, together with Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos were lifted off for International Space Station (ISS) from Baikonur, launched on board Russia’s Soyuz TMA-M Series spacecraft. The primary objective of the Soyuz TMA-20M mission is to safely deliver and return three crew members to and from the ISS:
Jeff Williams
Watch VR Video as Soyuz TMA 20M Prepare for Takeoff to ISS From Baikonur
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Following liftoff on the Soyuz-FG rocket from pad No. 1 at Baikonur, the rocket performed a nine minute ascent to the Earth orbit. Soyuz TMA-20M then deploy its solar arrays and separated from the booster, and initiated a six-hour, four-orbit with the ISS.
During their first orbit, the crew performed the first two pre-programed engine burns, which were monitored by the and mission controllers in Moscow. After the engine burns, the crew had the ability to perform a series of minor burns to calibrate any booster performance discrepancies found in the initial post-insertion period.
“These correction burns are always available to Soyuz crews; however, they are sometimes not required due to precision work by the Soyuz-FG booster.”
Subsequently, as Soyuz moved into its second orbit around the ISS, the mission controllers in Moscow uplinked additional orbital parameter from a Russia Ground Site ahead of a further eight burns over the following hours of flight. During the second orbit, the crew unstrapped from their seats and entered the Orbital Module to make final preparations for docking with the Station.
After two orbits, the Soyuz TMA entered the ISS vicinity, and targeted an automated docking with the Poise docking module at the zenith port. Following the dock, hooks and latches were used to secure the Soyuz firmly to the ISS, also known as “hard dock.”
After completed all leak checks, the Soyuz crew finally confirmed a safe connection with ISS, and hatches between were opened, and greeted by the Expedition 47 crew, which includes, NASA astronaut and ISS Commander Tim Kopra, British astronaut Tim Peake, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. The Expedition 47 crew were three months into their sixth month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.
The US Space Agency says that the Expedition 47 crew members will be conducting more than 250 science investigations such as biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development to would progress humanity as a whole. In late March the crew will include a study of realistic fire scenarios on a spacecraft, enable the first space-based observations of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere from space.
“It will also explore how regolith or soil, behaves and moves in microgravity, test a gecko-inspired adhesive gripping device that can stick on command in the harsh environment of space and add a new 3D printer for use on station.
Expedition 47 crew members also are expected to receive the first expandable habitat, which will allow NASA its first test of an innovative habitat concept that can support astronauts who live and work in the harsh environment of space. Check the recent video of astronauts Tim Peake and Scott Kelly dodge and dive from Space Invaders as they take on the International Space Station’s meanest Martians.
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