News

June 21, 2012.
RSC Energia held 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-05M, and about the readiness of Soyuz TMA-03M for completion of its mission;
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-32 and completing the mission of Expedition ISS-30/31 crew;
about Soyuz-FG launch vehicle readiness for the launch of Soyuz TMA-05M;
about the readiness of the launch pad for the launch of the integrated launch vehicle carrying Soyuz TMA-05M;
about the status of the ISS US segment and its readiness for the next phase of the mission;
about the readiness of the ground control equipment and infrastructure for upcoming operations with Soyuz TMA-05M, Soyuz TMA-03M and ISS;
about the readiness of the search and rescue assets for performing work in support of Soyuz TMA-03M landing and Soyuz TMA-05M launch;
about the readiness of the ISS-32 crew for carrying out the program of upcoming activities on the ISS, and of the crew of ISS-30/31 for landing;
about health status of ISS-30, ISS-31and ISS-32 crews;
about conformity of Soyuz TMA-05M 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 RSC Energia proposal to return the crew of ISS-30/31 onboard Soyuz TMA-03M on July 01, 2012;
approve RSC Energia proposals on the outstanding activities plan to prepare Soyuz TMA-05M for launch on July 15, 2012; on the delivery to the ISS of the next expedition crew of three (Y. Malenchenko, S. Williams, A. Hoshide) and on the ISS mission plan for the period immediately ahead; on the program of research and experiments for the next stage of the ISS Expedition;
clear the ISS RS to proceed with the next phase of the ISS operation.

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