SOYUZ TMA-05M

2012-037A July 15, 2012

Pad 1, Site 5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of

Kazakhstan

November 19, 2012

Northern Kazakhstan landing zone (near to the town of Arkalyk)

Soyuz-FG (R-7) (serial number Л15000-042),

Soyuz TMA-05M (serial number 706)

126 da 23 h 13 min 27 s Agat

ISS resident crew transport (ISS-32/33), Soyuz 31S

Flight crew

MALENCHENKO, Yuri Ivanovich, 50, Russian Federation Air Force, RSA ISS-32/33 flight engineer, Soyuz TMA-M commander; fifth mission Previous missions-. Soyuz TM-19 (1994), STS-101 (2000), Soyuz TMA-2 (2003), Soyuz TMA-11 (2007)

WILLIAMS, Sunita Lyn, 46, NASA, U. S.A., ISS-32 flight engineer, ISS-33 commander, Soyuz TMA-M flight engineer, second mission Previous mission-. STS-116/ISS/STS-117 (2006/2007)

HOSHIDE, Akihiko, 43, JAXA, (Japanese) ISS-32/33 flight engineer, Soyuz TMA-M flight engineer, second mission Previous mission-. STS-124 (2008)

Flight log

In the Expedition 33 preflight Mission Summary, the flight was described as “action-packed”, including the arrival of the first commercial resupply mission and research across a variety of experiments including muscle atrophy. Expedition 33 would continue to expand the research program, looking into the radiation levels aboard the outpost and the effects of microgravity on the human spinal cord. The Agricultural Camera would investigate dynamic processes on Earth (such as melting glaciers), seasonal changes, and how the ecosystem is affected by human intervention. The crew experiment program would encompass further experiments in human research, biological and physical sciences, development of new technologies, Earth observations and education.

Calling the expedition “action-packed” may have been stretching the description a little at the start, but the crew was certainly never at a loss for

Expedition 33 commander competes in the first triathlon in space.

things to occupy their time. With difficulties encountered on their first EVA, there was soon plenty of unplanned “action” for them to deal with. Their mission emblem description explained that the work on the ISS was “heading into the future”. Now that the space station was almost complete and the Shuttle retired, Expedition 33 was part of the push for new goals in space, even though it was not exactly clear where those goals were heading.

The launch occurred on the 37th anniversary of the launch of Soyuz 19 and Apollo 18 under the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first joint U. S.S. R./U. S. manned space flight program. This was not lost on the crew or officials recalling the event in their pre and postlaunch speeches. The arrival at the space station on July 17 was also exactly 37 years after the docking of Soyuz and Apollo and gave rise to further celebrations and comments on how far the joint programs had progressed since that time. The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft was docked success­fully with the Rassvet MRM1 module and, after the hatch opening, normal safety briefings, and welcoming ceremonies, the three new crew members were soon unloading equipment from the Soyuz, powering down their spacecraft, and getting up to speed on the various science and research activities across the station.

For most of their first two months on board the station, the trio were designated flight engineers as part of the ISS-32 Expedition. They were involved with activities associated with the Progress, HTV, and ATV resupply craft, as well as various science activities and general housekeeping duties. As August pro­gressed, Malenchenko assisted Padalka on a Russian segment EVA from Pirs (August 20), while Williams and Hoshide prepared for their own space walk from the Quest airlock using U. S. EMU suits.

That EVA (August 30, 8h 17 min) became the third longest space walk in history. The main objective of the EVA was to install a new Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) to the SO truss segment. This unit was one of four which routed electricity from the solar arrays on the truss to the station. After removing the failed unit, the astronauts found it difficult to install its replacement, chiefly because securing the bolts proved to be much harder than anticipated. Indeed, they could not secure one particularly stubborn bolt, so they used a long-duration tie down tether to secure the unit temporarily until a second EVA could be undertaken to finish the task. Unfortunately, with the MBSU out of service and two arrays out of action, the power available on the ISS was reduced by 25%. The EVA crew was able to connect one of two power cables in preparation for the arrival of the new Russian module, but the replacement of a camera on Canadarm2 also had to be postponed. Ironically, an unconnected drop-off of the station’s power system on September 1 meant that a third panel went off-line, reducing the station to five out of eight power channels for the first time in several years. The second EVA, on September 5 (6 h 28 min) was more successful, with the crew able to secure the MBSU and install the Canadarm2 camera.

On September 15, the Altair ISS-32 crew handed over command of the station to the Agat ISS-33 crew shortly before departing the station and ending their 125-day mission. Once again, the resident crew compliment was down to just three. Commander Sunita Williams became only the second female station expedition commander in 12 years and over 30 expeditions. The formal start of ISS-33 operations occurred when Soyuz TMA-04M undocked from the station to begin their return to Earth.

The handover occurred on the same weekend that Williams became the first person to complete a triathlon in space. After “participating” in the Boston Marathon during her first stay on the station in April 2008, Williams “participated” in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon, held in Southern California on September 16. Orbiting some 240 miles (386 km) above the other competitors, she used special exercise equipment designed to keep astronauts fit during their mission and specially formulated to simulate the triathlon experience in space. Using a treadmill and stationary bike, she ran for 4 miles and cycled for 18 miles. To simulate “swimming”, Williams used the Advanced Resistive Exerciser Device (ARED), which allowed her to complete weightlifting and resistance exercises that approximated swimming in microgravity for “half a mile”. Her total time taken for the three disciplines was 1 hour 48 minutes 33 seconds.

The science work gathered pace for the crew through the rest of the month. Other tasks included preparing ATV-3 for undocking from the station. This was accomplished on September 28, with the vessel completing its destructive descent in the atmosphere on October 4. On October 10, the SpaceX Dragon CRS-1 cargo ship (which had launched on October 7) was grasped by the station’s RMS and attached to the Harmony Node, making it the first operational commercial resup­ply mission to arrive at the space station. On board were 8821b (400 kg) of cargo to replenish supplies at the station. The crew loaded about 1,6001b (726 kg) of cargo for return to Earth when the Dragon spacecraft detached from the station on October 28. It splashed down in the Pacific about six hours after undocking.

The next event was the arrival, on October 25, of the other three Expedition 33 crew members on board Soyuz TMA-6M. They were to take over from Wil­liams and her colleagues in November and continue as the Expedition 34 trio for the remainder of the year. With the new crew safely docked and integrated into the main residency program the emphasis shifted to preparations for the next EVA planned for November 1. On this EVA Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide were allocated 6 hours and 30 minutes to repair an ammonia leak on one of the station’s port side radiators. The ammonia, which is circulated through the external thermal control system of the orbital facility, is used to cool the electronics and other systems.

The November 1 EVA (designated U. S. EVA-20) performed by Williams and Hoshide was accomplished in 6h 38 min accomplishing all the assigned and one get-ahead tasks. The pair completed both parts of the EAS (Early Ammonia System) jumper reconfiguration; demated the PVR 2B FQDC (Photovoltaic Radiator Flight Quick Disconnect Coupling); removed the cover from the spare TTCR (Trailing Thermal Control Radiator), then released and deployed the device. They also took documentary photography of the IEA (Integrated Equip­ment Assembly) and the PVR, as well as conducting the get-ahead task of inspecting the port SARJ (Solar Array Joint).

With the EVA completed the “Agat” trio prepared to hand over command of the station to the “Kazbek” crew and end their residency. Formal handover of the command of the ISS from Williams to Kevin Ford took place on November 17. The official ending of the ISS-33 phase and start of the ISS-34 phase took place on

November 19 with the undocking of Soyuz TMA-05M. The residency had accumulated 127 day in space with approximately 60 days spent as part of the ISS-32 expedition and then 63 days as the ISS-33 expedition.

Milestones

289th manned space flight 120th Russian manned space flight 112th manned Soyuz 31st ISS Soyuz mission (31S)

5th Soyuz TMA-M flight 32/33rd ISS resident crew

Williams celebrated her 47th birthday in space (September 19)

Williams becomes only the second female ISS expedition commander Williams also surpasses Whitson’s EVA record for a female astronaut setting a new cumulative EVA record of 50 h 40 min (seven EVAs)

Williams becomes the first person to complete a “triathlon” in space’ on September 16, adding the achievement to her space marathon run completed in April 2008