Ongoing Operational Support

October 28, 2003 - Spanish Soyuz Mission Cervantes

ESA astronaut Pedro Duque from Spain lands in the command module of the Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan at 08:40 local time, 03:40 Central European Time (CET), thus concluding the successful 10-day Cervantes mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Soyuz separated from the ISS Monday evening at 23h17 GMT (or today 00h17 CET). Before re-entry in the atmosphere the Soyuz ejects less vital parts (a.o. orbital module and service module) in order to reduce to the minimum the amounts of kilograms that need to be brought back to earth (less heat shields, retro rockets and parachute).

During the descent no more communication is possible with the Soyuz, due to plasma build up around it. Overload on the crew increases: they have to support up to 4 g. Parachutes open at 10 Km altitude and the capsule lands a little later, more precisely at 02h40 GMT (or 03h40 CET).

Parachutes of the Soyuz capsule open at 10 Km altitude.	Soyuz capsule after landing.