News

March 6, 2013.
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 (RS) of the International Space Station (ISS).

Heard during the session were the following reports:

• about the progress of preparations for the launch of the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz TMA-08M, and about the readiness of Soyuz TMA-06M for completion of its mission;
• about the results of the ISS flight, the mission program for the upcoming period, status of ISS, Lead Operations Control Team and flight support assets readiness for accomplishing the program of the next expedition;
• about Soyuz-FG launch vehicle readiness for the launch of Soyuz TMA-08M;
• about the readiness of the launch pad for the launch of the integrated launch vehicle carrying Soyuz TMA-08M;
• about the readiness of the ground space infrastructure, including measurement facilities, for the upcoming work with Soyuz TMA-08M;
• about the status of the ISS US segment and its readiness for the next phase of the mission;
• about the readiness of MCC-M for the upcoming activities with Soyuz TMA-06M, Soyuz TMA-08M and ISS;
• about the readiness of the search and rescue assets for performing work in support of Soyuz TMA-06M landing and Soyuz TMA-08M launch;
• about the health status of the crews of ISS-33/34, ISS-34/35, ISS-35/36;
• about the readiness of the ISS-35/36 crew for carrying out the program of upcoming activities on the ISS, and of the crew of ISS-33/34 for landing.

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 proposals to return the crew of Expedition ISS-33/34 onboard Soyuz TMA-06M on March 15, 2013, to allow the re-use of instrumentation and assemblies within Soyuz TMA-08M, on the plan of upcoming activities to prepare the crew of Soyuz TMA-08M for launch on March 29, 2013, on the delivery to ISS of the next Expedition crew of three, on implementing a reduced profile for rendezvous with ISS in the course of Soyuz TMA-08M flight; on the launch date of Progress M-19M scheduled for April 22, 2013;
• permit 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, space agencies from abroad, subdivisions of RSC Energia, organizations and companies implementing the ISS program.