News

October 21, 2011.
A session of the Council of Chief Designers for the Russian Segment of the International Space Station.

S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia held a session, chaired by the Corporation President and General Designer V.A. Lopota, of the Council of Chief Designers for the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (ISS).

Heard during the session were the following reports:

about the progress of preparations for launch of the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz TMA-22, as well as the readiness of Soyuz TMA-02M for completion of its mission;
about Soyuz-launch vehicle readiness for the launch of Soyuz TMA-22;
about the ISS mission results, the program for the upcoming period, the status of ISS and Lead Operations Control Team and flight support assets readiness for carrying out the program of the next expedition ISS-29/30 and completing the mission of Expedition ISS-28/29 crew;
about the readiness of the launch pad for the launch of the integrated launch vehicle carrying Soyuz TMA-22;
about the status of the ISS US segment and its readiness for the next phase of the mission;
about the readiness for upcoming operations with Soyuz TMA-22, Soyuz TMA-02M and ISS of the ground control loop;
about the readiness of the search and rescue assets for performing work in support of Soyuz TMA-22 launch and Soyuz TMA-02M landing;
about the readiness of the ISS-29/30 crew for carrying out the program of upcoming activities on the ISS, and of the crew of ISS-28/29 for landing;
about the health status of the crews of ISS-28/29 ISS-29/30;
about conformity of Soyuz TMA-22 to specifications and standards.

Presented to the Council of Chief Designers were supplementary reports, announcements and findings from chief designers and responsible representatives of organizations and companies participating in the ISS program.

There are no obstacles to continuing the work under the ISS program.

The Council of Chief Designers made the decision to approve:

The plan of forthcoming work to prepare Soyuz TMA-22 for launch on November 14, 2011;
Proposals to deliver to ISS the crew of the next Expedition ISS-29/30 consisting of three persons (A. Shkaplerov, A. Ivanishin, D. Burbank) and the ISS mission plan for the neares future;
RSC Energia proposal to return the crew of ISS-28/29 onboard Soyuz TMA-02M on November 22, 2011;
The program of scientific research and experiments to be conducted during Expedition ISS-29/30.

Taking intop account the actual state of the ISS RS, the Council of Chief Designers made the decision to allow ISS RS to proceed with the program of the nex expedition ISS-29/30.

Taking part in the proceedings of the Council of Chief Designers were heads of Roscosmos, representatives of space agencies from abroad (NASA, ESA, JAXA), subdivisions of RSC Energia, organizations and companies implementing the ISS program.