NASA TV Covers Next Space Station Crew’s Journey to Orbit

HOUSTON — NASA Television will air the events surrounding the launch and delivery of the next three residents to the International Space Station. Coverage begins with a broadcast of prelaunch activities Dec. 8, and continues through the crew’s arrival to the orbiting laboratory Dec. 22.

Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov, NASA Flight Engineer Timothy J. (T.J.) Creamer and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Flight Engineer Soichi Noguchi are scheduled to launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:51 p.m. CST on Sunday, Dec. 20.

After a two-day trip, the Soyuz will dock to the space station at 4:58 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22, beginning the crew members’ six-month stay.

Kotov, Creamer and Noguchi will join Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams of NASA and Russian Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev, who have been on the complex since October.

Events on NASA TV will include (all times are CST):

Dec. 9
11 a.m. – Expedition 22 crew video file of departure in Star City, Russia, for Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Dec. 18
11 a.m. – Video file of crew activities in Baikonur and the Soyuz rocket’s mating and rollout

Dec. 19
10 a.m. – Video file of prelaunch crew news conference from Baikonur

Dec. 20
2:15 p.m. – Video file of prelaunch activities and arrival at launch pad from Baikonur
3 p.m. – Launch coverage and replays from Baikonur (launch scheduled at 3:51 p.m.)
7 p.m. – Prelaunch activities, launch and post launch interviews from Baikonur

Dec. 22
4:30 p.m. – Coverage of the Soyuz docking to station (docking scheduled at 4:58 p.m.; post-docking news conference follows)
6 p.m. – Hatch opening and welcoming ceremony (hatch opening scheduled at 6:29 p.m.)
8 p.m. – Video file of the docking to the station, hatch opening and welcoming ceremony

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about the space station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station