10/24/2004 Korolev, Moscow Region.
Following
a 188-day flight program the Expedition 9 crew of the International
Space Station (ISS-9) consisting of the commander Gennady
Padalka, Russian cosmonaut, and the flight engineer Michael
Fincke, U.S. astronaut, returned to Earth in Soyuz TMA-4
descent vehicle. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Shargin, who has
been working on the ISS from October 16 through October
24 under the visiting crew (VC-7) program returned to the
Earth together with the ISS-9 crew.
OFFICIAL
PRESS-RELEASE
Photo-report
04/21/2004 Korolev, Moscow Region.
The
Russian Soyuz TMA-4 manned transport spacecraft docked to
the International Space Station (ISS) Orbital Complex.
At 09:01 Moscow time the spacecraft came into contact with
the port of the ISS Functional Cargo Block Zarya, when the
spacecraft and Space Station were within the Russian ground
site coverage.
Following a two-day free flight in near-earth orbit and
upon completion of all the required rendezvous and berthing
operations in an automated mode with respect to the Space
Station, Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft approached the ISS Orbital
Complex.
OFFICIAL
PRESS-RELEASE
04/19/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The fourth new modification manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-4
designed and manufactured at S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space
Corporation Energia was launched.
The Soyuz-FG Integrated Launch Vehicle carrying the manned
spacecraft aboard was launched at 7 hours 19 minutes Moscow
Time.
The launch purposes are the following: to deliver the 9
Expedition crew to the International Space Station; scheduled
rotation of the 8th Expedition crew and the Soyuz TMA-3
spacecraft, which has been operating as part of the station
and the rescue vehicle since October 20th, 2003; to implement
the 6th Visiting Crew Program onboard the station, including
space experiments and studies under the Delta Project; to
solve the engineering support problems of the station Expedition
crew mission.
04/18/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
A
meeting of the State Board was held at which the Soyuz TMA-4
and ISS-9 prime and backup crews were approved, as well
as a decision was made to continue the Rocket & Space
Complex processing for filling and launch within the scheduled
time.
The prime crew consists of: Gennady
Ivanovich Padalka, Soyuz TMA Commander and ISS Expedition
9 Commander - flight cosmonaut of RF, instructor - test
cosmonaut of Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Colonel,
Russian AF; Edward Michael
Fincke, Soyuz TMA Flight Engineer and ISS Expedition
9 Flight Engineer - NASA Astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel USAF;
Andre Kuipers,
Soyuz TMA Flight Engineer-1 and ISS visiting crew Flight
Engineer - ESA astronaut, the Netherlands.
Photo-report
04/17/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
At
5:00 a.m. Moscow Time, the transporter with the Soyuz-FG
launch vehicle and the Soyuz TMA-4 transport spacecraft
left the Assembly and Testing Facility and arrived to the
launch pad for the final pre-launch processing. The Soyuz-FG
- Soyuz TMA-4 system was erected on the launcher. First
launch day activities began.
Photo-report
04/16/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Orbital
module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing Soyuz
TMA-4 spacecraft was integrated with the launch vehicle
in the LV Assembly and Testing Facility.
Photo-report
At
03:00 P.M. Moscow time, a meeting of the Governmental Commission
and the Technical Management was held where a decision was
made to roll out the launch vehicle carrying Soyuz TMA-4
to the launch pad.
04/15/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Orbital module of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle, containing
Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft
processing facility to the launch vehicle processing facility
for integration.
Photo-report
04/14/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The Soyuz TMA-4 prime and backup crews inspected the transport
spacecraft in its launch configuration in the Assembly and
Testing Facility.
Photo-report
04/13/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The prime crew (Gannadi Padalka, Michael Fincke, Andre Kuipers)
and backup crew (Salizhan Sharipov, Leroy Chiao, Gerhard
Thiele) of the Soyuz TMA-4 transport spacecraft arrived
to the launch site to immediate training for the flight
to the ISS scheduled on April 19.
Photo-report
04/12/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Designers inspection of the Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft was completed.
Photo-report
Payload shroud roll on to the Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft was
performed.
Photo-report
04/09/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Soyuz TMA-4 propulsion system was fueled with propellant
components and compressed gases.
Photo-report
04/08/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Members of the prime and backup crews of the Russian Soyuz
transport spacecraft had training sessions and fit checks
in the Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft.
Photo-report
from the Cosmonauts Preparation Room
Photo-report
from the Assembly and Testing Facility
04/07/2004 Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The prime crew (Gannadi Padalka (Russia), Michael Fincke
(NASA), Andre Kuipers (ESA)) and backup crew (Salizhan S.
Sharipov (Russia), Leroy Chiao (NASA), Gerhard Thiele (ESA))
of the Soyuz TMA-4 transport spacecraft arrived to the cosmodrome
to accomplish training and accept the spacecraft.
Photo-report
03/18/2004 Korolev, Moscow region.
From March 15 to 18, S.P.Korolev RSC Energia held training
sessions for Genadi Padalka (Soyuz TMA-4 Commander, ISS-9
Commander), Mickael Finke (Soyuz TMA-4 Flight Engineer,
ISS-9 Flight Engineer) and their back-up crew, Salizhan
Sharipov and Leroy Chiao.
Photo-report
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