Soyuz TM-31 with VC-1 crew Returns to Earth
Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabaev, Yuri Baturin and U.S. citizen Dennis
Tito, having fulfilled the 8-day space flight program of the visiting
crew (VC-1) to the International Space Station, have returned successfully
to the Earth.
The Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft descent vehicle landed at 9:41 Moscow summer
time in the prescribed area to the north-north-east of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan.
The main purpose of the VC-1 flight has been fulfilled. The scheduled
replacement of the Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft that had been functioning
as a part of the ISS since November 02, 2000, for the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft
has been performed. Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft undocking from the Russian
service module Zvezda was implemented at 6:21 Moscow summer time on
control commands from MCC-M.
Russian spacecraft of the Soyuz TM series act as rescue vehicles on
the ISS that will be used by the ISS prime crew to leave the station
in case of a danger.
The VC-1 operation aboard the ISS was organized in accordance with the
planned flight program. The Plazma crystal-3 experiment was performed
followed by information downlink. Investigations of the world oceanic
area under the Diatonia program – testing of the procedures of fish
shoals detection to inform fishing vessels and research ships – were
conducted. Within the work under the VC-1 flight program mapping of
the Kazakhstan territory was made by which the status of young crops
and areas subjected to flooding during high water was defined. The crew
took part in approbation of medicines developed by scientists and physicians
of the Kazakhstan Republic.
U.S. astronaut Dennis Tito who performed a space flight to the ISS within
the commercial project has fulfilled the scheduled program of individual
activities in the full scope: photography and video survey of the Earth
surface, visual observations, gathering of materials for the author’s
book on the flight were performed. Besides, Dennis Tito actively helped
the crew in preparation of the Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft for return to
the ground, everyday activities, namely, sorting of food, etc.
On May 04, 2001 an onboard press-conference was held with the VC-1 for
Russian and foreign mass media. The VC-1 members answered many questions
of journalists over two communication sessions supported by the Russian
control means.
The ISS on-orbit complex continues its flight in a near-earth orbit
with an inclination of 51.6*, maximum and minimum altitudes of 413.4
and 379.1 km, respectively, and a period of 92.3 min having the following
components in its complement: Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft – Zvezda service
module – Zarya functional cargo module – Unity module – Destiny module.
The total mass of the complex is about 113.7 t.
The onboard systems of the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft and station’s modules
function normally. The ISS prime crew (Yu. Usachev, J. Voss and S. Helms)
continue to implement the flight program in orbit.
Following reception of information on successful landing of the Soyuz
TM-31 spacecraft descent vehicle, a briefing at MCC was held. Yu.P.
Semenov, S.P. Korolev RSC Energia President, General Designer, academician
of RAS answered journalists questions and noted that the crew had fulfilled
their tasks in the full scope in accordance with the program as regards
both the dates and the nomenclature of operations and experiments; the
cosmonauts, including D. Tito, feel well.
