Soyuz Docks at Space Station with Expedition 55 Russian-American Trio

Space station cameras sight the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft just meters away from docking to the Poisk module on March 23, 2018. Credit: NASA TV

Ken Kremer  --   SpaceUpClose.com  --   23 Mar 2018

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL-  Two days after blasting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a Russian Soyuz capsule ferrying the Expedition 55 veteran trio of spaceflyers from Russia and America successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) Wednesday afternoon.

The Russian Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft docked to the Poisk module on the Russian segment of the space station at 3:40 p.m. EDT while both spacecraft were sailing approximately 254 miles (406 kilometers) over Serbia in orbital darkness.

The Expedition 55 crew includes Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and astronauts Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel of NASA.  They now begin a 5 month stay at the orbiting research lab.

“Contact Confirmed. We have docking,” announced NASA commentator Rob Navias during a live broadcast of the high flying events on NASA TV.

“Soyuz MS-08 successfully arrived at the International Space Station, sliding into the Poisk module.”

Hatches between the two spacecraft were opened two hours later at 5:48 p.m. EDT and the new trio floated from the cramped Soyuz into the voluminous research lab.

“The space stations population has doubled.”

The newest Expedition 55 crew members (front row from left) Drew Feustel, Oleg Artemyev and Ricky Arnold gather in the Zvezda service module and speak to family and colleagues back on Earth after arriving at the ISS on March 23, 2018. Behind them are (from left) Norishige Kanai, Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Scott Tingle. Credit: NASA TV

During final approach the cramped Soyuz spacecraft carrying 3 highly trained humans was closing in at 0.1 km/sec after conducting a 122 degree fly around of the station.

Live video feeds from the Soyuz and the space station provided exquisitely stunning views of the rendezvous and docking.

Space station cameras sight the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft just meters away from docking to the Poisk module on March 23, 2018. Credit: NASA TV

The all male trio comprising two NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut had launched aboard their Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:44 p.m. EDT Wednesday (11:44 p.m. Baikonur time) into the plane of the space stations orbit.

The Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold, and Oleg Artemyev of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, lifts off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:44 p.m. EDT March 21, 2018 (11:44 p.m. Baikonur time). The crew is scheduled to dock to the International Space Station at 3:41 p.m. March 23, 2018.  Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky

After reaching orbit the Soyuz carried out a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings.

The entire sequence from launch to docking was fully automated.

“The flawless docking was executed automatically”

“The KURS automated system was right on the money,” said Navias. “It was a text book rendezvous and a smooth docking.”

Hooks and latches were driven home to achieve a hard mate as residual motions were dampened out.

The crew then conducted leak checks to confirm the docking was airtight with no issues.

With the arrival of the new trio, Expedition 55 reached its full complement of six astronauts and cosmonauts living and working on the orbiting outpost.

After pressure were equalized the hatches were opened between the two spacecraft at 5:48 p.m. EDT as they were soaring 254 mi (406 km) over the northern coast of Australia.

The new trio floated inside one by one. Arnold first, Feustel second and Artemyev last.

"All six crewmembers are now together,” said Navias.

Feustal, Arnold and Artemyev join the existing trio of crew members comprising Scott Tingle of NASA, Expedition 55 Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency - already on board since launching on Soyuz MS-07 in December 2017.

All six crewmates then gathered for the traditional welcoming ceremony in the Russian Zvezda module and congratulations from Russian ground control and their families back on Earth. 

“You guys look great on orbit,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s director of spaceflight. “We can hardly wait for you to get busy and start doing lots of great work for us.”

The ISS has been continuously occupied for more than 17 years.

Shkaplerov, Tingle and Kanai are scheduled to remain aboard the station until June 2018, while Feustel, Arnold and Artemyev are slated to return to Earth in late August after 167 days on orbit.

This is Feustel’s 3^rd mission – including one to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope - and the second for Arnold and Artemyev.

The mission “continues the long-term increase in crew size on the U.S. segment from three to four, allowing NASA to maximize time dedicated to research on the space station,” said NASA.

They will continue investigations working on over 250 science experiments. 

At least 2 spacewalks are planned during Expedition 55.

“Highlights of upcoming investigations include: a new facility to test materials, coatings and components of other large experiments in the harsh environment of space; a study on the effects of microgravity on bone marrow and blood cells produced in bone marrow; and a newly-developed passive nutrient delivery system for the Veggie plant growth facility.”

The Expedition 55-56 crew poses for a picture at the conclusion of a press conference, Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

The next US cargo resupply mission is slated for blastoff on April 2 with on the SpaceX Falcon9/Dragon CRS-14 flight carrying over 5000 pounds of science and supplies to the ISS.

Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK and more space and mission reports direct from the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Stay tuned here for Ken's continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer - ken at kenkremer.com