September 29, 2006, Korolev, Moscow Region.
The Soyuz TMA-8 descent module returned to ground the
Expedition 13 crew of the International Space Station
(ISS-13) consisting of Pavel Vinogradov (commander, S.P.Korolev
RSC Energia test cosmonaut), and Jeffry Williams (flight
engineer, NASA astronaut). Anoushek Ansari, spaceflight
participant, who has been working onboard the ISS from
September 20 through September 28 under the visiting crew
(VC-11) program returned to the Earth together with the
ISS-13 crew.
The spacecraft undocked from the Zarya module of the Russian Segment of the ISS
on September 29, 2006 at 01:53 Moscow summer time through commands from the Mission
Control Center in Moscow (MCC-M). The spacecraft descent was carried out in the
nominal automatic control mode.
The descent module landed at 05:13 to the north of the town of Arkalyk, Republic
of Kazakhstan at 87 km from the town. The search and rescue teams provided an
operative timely search of the descent module, escort of the decent module during
the parachute descent and landing, and subsequent evacuation of the crew from
the landing site.
Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft operated as part of the ISS for 181 days as a crew rescue
vehicle. It was replaced with Souz-TMA-9, which delivered the Expedition 14 crew
(ISS-14) to the Station.
At Mission Control Center in Moscow the Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft deorbit and reentry
maneuvers were performed under control of N.N. Sevastiyanov, RSC Energia President,
General Designer of Manned Space Complexes and Technical Manager of Flight Tests.
Soyuz TMA-8 reentry flight was commanded by the Lead Operational Control Team
(LOCT) located at MCC-M and working in cooperation with the specialists of the
U.S. Mission Control Center (Houston). The Flight Director is V.A. Soloviev,
RSC Energia Vice-President, Deputy General Designer, pilot cosmonaut.
During the final spacecraft reentry operations the Mission Control Center was
attended by A.P. Perminov, Roskosmos Director, Chairman of the State Board, R.Jeveden
and M. Suffredini, NASA official management representatives, C. Feightinger,
ESA representative, V.A. Grin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Board, A.B.
Krasnov, Head of Piloted Programs Department of Roskosmos, N.A. Anfimov, General
Director of TsNII of Machine-Building, A.I.Grigoriev, IBMP Director, V.V.Tsibliev,
Director of GCTC RGNII, as well as representatives of Russian and foreign enterprises
and organizations participating in the implementation of the ISS program.
The Expedition 14 crew, consisting of Mikhail Turin (flight engineer, RSC Energia
test cosmonaut), Michael Lopez-Alegria (commander, NASA astronaut), Thomas Reiter
(flight engineer, ESA astronaut) continue their in-orbit activities under the
flight program.
Following the report about the crew evacuation from the Soyuz TMA-8 descent module,
a briefing for the Russian and foreign journalists took place at Mission Control
Center in Moscow.
By estimate of N.N. Sevastiyanov, Soyuz TMA-8 descent module
landed with no comments.
  
  
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