Belgian User Support and Operation Centre
Ongoing Operational Support
October 20, 2003 - Spanish Soyuz Mission Cervantes
The TOCC (Taxi flight Operation Coordination Center) enters into the crucial part of operations supporting the docking of the Soyuz to the International Space Station (ISS). All the rendez-vous operations are monitored by means of the camera on-board the Soyuz. Such camera is located close to the docking port and can be used for the manual manouvre in case of problems to the automatic docking system. When the docking is completed and after balancing of Soyuz and ISS internal pressures, the crew moves to the Russian segment of the ISS.
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The Soyuz TMA-3 docked with ISS at 09:16 CEST (07:16 UT). Three hours later at 12:14 CEST (10:14 UT), the hatch between the Soyuz and ISS was opened and the crew, ESA astronaut Pedro Duque, NASA astronaut Michael Foale and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri, entered ISS. They were welcomed on board by ISS Expedition Seven, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Ed Lu. See re-runs of launch and docking on ESA Live Webcast Cervantes Mission. |
 Docking of the Soyuz with Frank De Winne, during the Odissea Mission in 2002 |
During this first day in the ISS, the spanish astronaut, Pedro Duque will start the scientific programme.
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Container for the
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Today, the astronaut takes care of three Belgian experiments: Message, Promiss2 and Nanoslab. Studying the effects of space conditions on bacteria has started in the afternoon with the treatement of the first Message2 samples. Alongside you see a picture of Message container T, a thermally insulated container containing 6 experimental numbered bags, heat absorber and temperature logger. In the evening Promiss2 and Nanoslab2 are installed. The activation of Promiss is also planned for today, but the activation of Nanoslab is for tomorrow. With Promiss scientists want to acquire a better understanding of protein crystal growth processes, while Nanoslab studies the kynetics of zeolite formation. Zeolites are porous minerals on nanometer scale used for industrial processes. At 18h24 GMT, the scientists responsible for Promiss at the B.USOC send some corrections in the set up of the experiment to the ISS. This "correction table" is part of the normal procedures for the realisation of Promiss. |
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See flash animation of Ground
Communication System for uploads from B.USOC to the ISS, |
