September 19, 2008. S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, Korolev, Moscow Region

S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia hosted the next meeting of the General Designer's Review Board chaired by V.A. Lopota, the Corporation President, General Designer.
The following reports were heard:

• Report on readiness status of Soyuz TMA-13 transport manned space vehicle;
• Report on Soyuz - FG launch vehicle flight readiness for Soyuz TMA-13 space vehicle launch;
• Report on the Launch Complex readiness for the launch of the integrated launch vehicle with the Soyuz TMA-13 space vehicle;
• Report on the Soyuz TMA-12 readiness for completion of the flight;
• Report on status of the International Space Station (ISS) Russian Segment (RS) and continued implementation of its Mission Program;
• Report on the ISS USOS status and readiness for the next flight phase, aftereffects of "Ike" hurricane and the American Party's potential to resume nominal operation of the Mission Control Center in Houston;
• Report on the results of ISS-17 Expedition flight, Mission Program for the forthcoming period, the readiness status of the ISS, LOCT and flight support systems for performance of the next ISS-18 Expedition Program;
• Report on readiness of ground control loop (GCL) systems for the coming operations with Soyuz TMA-13, Soyuz TMA-12 and ISS;
• Report on the search and rescue equipment readiness in support of Soyuz TMA-13 launch and Soyuz TMA-12 landing activities;
• Report on readiness of ISS - 18 Expedition crew, VC-15 visiting crew for activities to be performed in connection with the forthcoming works program on the ISS and ISS-17 crew descent operations;
• Report on health status of ISS-18, ISS-17 crews and VC-15 visiting crew;
• Report on the compliance of Soyuz TMA-13 with the General Designer's documentation;
• Report on work progress in ground tests and preparation for flight tests of a new modification of Progress M-1M transport cargo space vehicle;
• Report on the results of the branch committee work on examining the reasons behind Soyuz TMA-11 ballistic descent and a package of measures required to eliminate that nonconformity for Soyuz TMA-12 and Soyuz TMA-13 space vehicles.

In the course of the Review Board meeting, co-reports, messages and conclusions of the Chief Designers, responsible representatives of the agencies and enterprises involved in implementing the ISS Program were heard.
Also the speakers addressed the meeting with the conclusions on the Soyuz TMA-13 systems readiness and design; general report on the Soyuz - FG/Soyuz TMA-13 Rocket and Space Complex components and all ISS technical systems for the next flight phase.
It was reported that with due regard for the previously - detected remarks and proposed technical recommendations, there were no obstacles to continue activities under the ISS Program.
The General Designers Board resolved to approve the RSC Energia - proposed plan for the coming final operations for Soyuz TMA-13 transport manned space vehicle prelaunch processing and launch and Soyuz TMA-12 return to Earth, as well as the proposals concerning ISS-18 and VC-15 programs initiated by the Corporation.
The following officials participated in the General Designers Review Board: V.A. Davydov, the Secretary of State, deputy Head of Roscosmos; A.B. Krasnov, the Head of Roscosmos Human Space Flight Programs Department; M. Bowman, deputy Director of NASA Human Space Flights Program in Moscow; K. Feightinger, the Head of Permanent Mission of ESA in Moscow; Roscosmos, NASA, ESA officials; A.S. Koroteev, the RAS academician, Director of FGUP Research Center after M.V. Keldysh; RAS academicians B.Y. Chertok, Yu.P. Semenov, V.P. Legostaev, N.A. Anfimov and others.

 For reference:
1. RSC Energia after S.P. Korolev is the leading enterprise in Russia engaged in the development and operation of the ISS Russian Segment, its integration into the station, as well as transport-engineering support using Soyuz, Progress-type space vehicle.

2. Soyuz TMA-13 space vehicle is slated to be launched on October 12, 2002 at 11 hours o1 minute Moscow time, while Soyuz TMA-12 space vehicle is slated to be returned to Earth on October 24, 2008 at 8 hours 00 minutes Moscow time.

3. ISS-18 Expedition Program is scheduled to last 175 days (173 days onboard the ISS), while VC-15 duration is 12 days (10 days onboard the ISS). In so doing, the Russian side will provide cargo traffic to the ISS using Progress M-1 M cargo space vehicle late in 2008 and Progress M-66 space vehicle early in 2009.