ESA astronaut André Kuipers today sent his first messages on Twitter since arriving on board the International Space Station. Using the handle @astro_andre, André has posted tweets throughout his training for the PromISSe mission and during the preparations for launch. Today André posted several images showing views inside the Soyuz spacecraft during the two day journey to the ISS and others with the Soyuz docked to ISS against the backdrop of Earth.
Soyuz did a great job bringing us to the Space Station. Little room though.... flic.kr/p/b1xs66
— André Kuipers (@astro_andre) December 25, 2011
Soyuz did a great job bringing us to the Space Station. Little room though....
Back in the space suit for docking flic.kr/p/b1xvWF
— André Kuipers (@astro_andre) December 25, 2011
Back in the space suit for docking
Our Soyuz docked to ISS flic.kr/p/b1xy5k
— André Kuipers (@astro_andre) December 25, 2011
Our Soyuz docked to ISS
Follow André on Twitter: @astro_andre
Andre's photostream on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/astro_andre/
NASA's Space Station Live
Explore NASA's Space Station Live
Replay of the hatch opening between the newly arrived Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft and the International Space Station. The new Expedition 30 crewmembers were welcomed on board by the three resident ISS Expedition 30 crewmembers, Commander Dan Burbank and Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoli Ivanishin.
Rendezvous & docking of the Soyuz TMA-03M with the International Space Station earlier this afternoon.
The Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft has docked with the International Space Station at 16:19 CET (15:19 UT). The crews are currently performing pressure and leak checks between the two spacecraft before opening the hatches around 19:00 (18:00 UT).
First view of the ISS from the Soyuz spacecraft
View of the Soyuz spacecraft as it approaches for docking with the ISS
Waiting to welcome André, Oleg and Don on board the International Space Station are the resident crewmembers. American ISS Commander Dan Burbank and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoli Ivanishin have been living on the ISS for just over one month after docking their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft on 16 November. Together the six crewmembers complete the 30th resident ISS crew - known as Expedition 30.
ISS Expedition 30
Dan Burbank, Expedition 30 commander
Dan Burbank has a strong expertise in naval flight training. He has logged over 4000 flight hours, primarily in coast guard helicopters, and has flown more than 300 search and rescue missions. Dan has served as spacecraft communicator (CapCom) for Space Shuttle and ISS missions. Having flown twice as a mission specialist on the Shuttle in 2000 and 2006, he has logged over 23 days in space.
NASA Biography
On Twitter: @AstroCoastie
Anton Shkaplerov, Expedition 30 flight engineer
39-year-old Anton Shkaplerov is the youngest crewmember of Expeditions 30 and 31. He has a long career as a pilot-instructor in the Russian Air Force. He flew different types of aircraft and he is an experienced parachutist. Born in Sevastopol, Ukraine, Anton was selected as a test-cosmonaut candidate in 2003. Four years ago he served as Director of Operations for the Russian Space Agency at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, US.
Anatoli Ivanishin, Expedition 30 flight engineer
This is the first spaceflight for Anatoli Ivanishin. Since 1991 he has served in combat units of the Russian Air Force, becoming a senior fighter pilot. Jet fighters and parachuting have been a major part of his military career. Like Anton, he was selected as a test-cosmonaut candidate in 2003. He obtained his official qualification two years later.
During his five-month PromISSe mission, ESA astronaut André Kuipers is listening - of course - to a lot of his favourite music. He has taken a selection of music with him on the ISS and soon a song a day will be featured on his blog (blogs.esa.int/andre-kuipers). Here some of the artists included on André's playlist send their best wishes, including Marillion, Pink Floyd and one of André's all-time favourites, Dutch guitarist, Harry Sacksioni.
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47 hours since their launch from Baikonur, the Soyuz spacecraft carrying André Kuipers, Don Pettit and Oleg Kononenko is closing in on the International Space Station. You can follow the ground track of both the Soyuz and ISS as they rendezvous in space at www.n2yo.com.
Ground track of Soyuz chasing ISS
Soyuz docking with ISS in 2003
After leak checks, the hatch will be opened around 19:00 CET (18:00 UT) and the new arrivals welcomed on board their new home by the resident ISS Expedition 30 crewmembers.
Live coverage of the docking and hatch opening is available via NASA TV webstreaming: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.
For HD Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv (there you can also join in with the chat)
Coverage of the docking: from 15:45 to 17:00 CET (14:45 - 16:00 UT)
Coverage of hatch opening: from 18:45 to 21:00 CET (17:45 to 20:00 UT)
Image credit: ESA/NASA
