Google+ SpaceTravelFoundation: 2014-03-23

March 28, 2014

Successful docking of Soyuz TMA-12M with ISS after engine trouble delays arrival

Dear readers and followers,


Wednesday March 26th, we reported that the Soyuz spacecraft which liftoff from Baikonur had to change the docking procedure to the International Space Station (ISS) due to a engine failure during its space launch.
Today, the Russian spacecraft arrived and docked with ISS using the previous standard procedure which needed 2 additional days of flight (34 Earth orbit).



Credit: Euronews 

The new crew considering 3 astronauts, the Russian Cosmonauts Aleksandr Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev and the NASA astronaut Steven R. Swanson will spend 6 months in the international Space Station.



Stay tuned

March 27, 2014

The SpaceX-3 resupply mission to ISS postponed again

Dear readers and followers,


today, NASA and SpaceX have been confirmed that Sunday's launch (March 30th) of its third contracted resupply mission to the International Station (ISS) has been postponed due to a range asset issue. 


Credit: SpaceX 


The spacecraft should resupply ISS but also deploy the next generation module for data communication using a laser, called OPALS for Optical Payload for Laser ScienceMore information including a new target launch date will be posted as it becomes available. 

Stay tuned.


Find the french version of the article there

March 26, 2014

Successful launch of the space mission Expedition 39 in Soyuz TMA-12M to ISS

Dear readers and followers,

yesterday night, three new crew members, the Russian Cosmonauts Aleksandr Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev and the NASA astronaut Steven R. Swanson blasted off into Space tonight  at 21:17 UTC in the TMA-12M spacecraft onboard the space rocket Soyuz-FG from the Russian Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan




Credit: Rt.com


The new crew, will dock to the International Space Station 6 hours after their launch and join the current crew members already onboard. Their mission on ISS will take around 6 months. Find below the video of the take-off.

 
Credit: NASA 



Update: Due to a failure, the spacecraft has to change the docking process to ISS. The spacecraft will use the previous standard process for the docking which needs to make 34 orbits of Earth. Stay tuned


Stay tuned

March 24, 2014

59th straight success for Ariane 5 from Kourou

Dear followers and readers,



last Saturday, March 22th 2014, the European space rocket, Ariane 5, performed with success a flawless launch from Europe’s spaceport at Kourou, French guiana. The space rocket orbited two telecommunications satellites, ASTRA 5B and Amazonas 4A. The flight was the European launcher’s 59th straight success since 2003. 




Credit image: CNES 

Stay tuned