Russian-French crew of ISS VC-2 Returns to Earth
31.10.2001. Korolev, Moscow Region
Upon completion of a ten-day flight program the Russian-French visiting
crew (VC-2) to the International Space Station (ISS) consisting of Viktor
Afanasiev (spacecraft commander, test cosmonaut of Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut
Training Center RSRC), French astronaut Claudie Haignere (flight engineer
1, CNES representative) and Konstantin Kozeev (flight engineer 2, test
cosmonaut of S.P. Korolev RSC Enegia) returned to the Earth.
The Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft undocked from the Russian module Pirs at
4:38:30 Moscow time on MCC-M control commands. The spacecraft performed
an automatic descending according to the nominal pattern.
The descent module landed in the prescribed area located 180 km to the
south-east of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The landing time is 7:59:29.
The main objective of the VC-2 flight has been fulfilled. An extensive
research program and scheduled replacement of the Soyuz TM-32 transport
spacecraft that had been functioning as a crew return vehicle within
the ISS since April 4, 2000 for the Soyuz TM-33 have been performed.
The Soyuz TM-32 undocked from the Russian Module Pirs at 4:36 Moscow
time on control commands from MCC-M.
The VC-2 crew has fulfilled a complete flight program incorporating
10 space experiments under the Andromede program in 33 sessions including
2 geophysical, 4 biomedical, 1 biotechnological and 3 technological
experiments.
The geophysical experiments were intended to investigate atmospheric
pollution of the Earth areas and optical radiation in atmosphere associated
with storm and seismic processes. Biomedical experiments studied changes
in a human body in zero-gravity, utilization of new computer technologies
to assure psychological crew comfort, effect of microgravity conditions
on the bio-objects growth and development. Biotechnological investigations
continued similar experiments performed on the Mir Space Station on
crystallization of various preparations by using new equipment. The
objective of the technological experiments is to study the impact of
charged particle flows on the electronic equipment, investigate plasma
dust crystals and liquids generation processes and behavior in microgravity
conditions, validation of support aids improving a cosmonaut comfort
in a long-duration space flight.
During the flight the following events were arranged aboard the ISS:
TV communication sessions with the Prime Minister of France Lionel Jospin
(October 23), who congratulated the CV-2 on their arrival to the Station
and wished them successful implementation of the flight program, the
French Research Minister, Roger-Gerard Schwartzenberg (October 25);
TV report about the Andromede research program (October 28); TV press-conferences
with mass media representatives in Paris (October 24), as well as with
the institutor of prise For International Cooperation, Spanish prince
Asturias (October 26) due to adjudging this prize to the integrated
ISS crew; with schoolchildren from Toulouse (October 27) in the frame
of the educational program.
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, an a period of 92.3 min.
The ISS consists of the functional cargo module Zarya, service module
Zvezda, docking compartment Pirs, Soyuz TM-33, Progress M-45 vehicles,
as well as U.S. modules Unity, Destiny and airlock Kvest. The total
mass of the complex is about 136.5 t.
The onboard systems of the Soyuz TM-33 transport spacecraft and station
modules operate nominally.
The ISS prime crew ISS-3 working aboard the Space Station and consisting
of Frank Culbertson (Commander), Vladimir Dezhurov (pilot, Soyuz TM
crew commander) and Mikhail Tyurin (flight engineer, test cosmonaut
of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia) continues to implement the on-orbit flight
program activities.
The Soyuz TM-33 spacecraft descending flight was commanded by the Lead
Operational Control Team (LOCT) located in Moscow Mission Control Center
(MCC-M, Korolev) and working in close cooperation with the specialists
from the American Mission Control Center (MCC-H, Houston). The LOCT
includes the managers and leading specialists from S.P. Korolev RSC
Energia, experts from other enterprises and organizations. The Flight
Director is Pilot-Cosmonaut V.A. Soloviev.
During the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft landing MCC-M was attended by CNES
General Director Gerard Brachet, Yu. P. Semenov, Technical Director
of Russian Manned Space Programs, General Designer of S.P. Korolev RSC
Energia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, leading specialists
of RSC Energia, Rosaviakosmos, NASA, ESA, CNES, Russian enterprises
and organizations involved in the ISS Project implementation.
The completion of the Russian-French crew, VC-2 crew flight program
is another example of development of the scientific and technical relations
and cooperation in the field of space research between Russia and France.
