The International Space Station (ISS) has been occupied continuously since 1 November 2000, with the arrival of the Expedition 1 Crew. Much had changed by the time the Expedition 9 Crew came aboard. The Station had nearly doubled in size, with a large increase in capability.

Expedition 9 initiated with the launch of Soyuz TMA-4 atop a Starsem booster from Baykonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on 18 April 2004 at 10:19 PM CDT (03:19 19 April GMT). Aboard were Station and Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka, and Flight Engineer Mike Fincke. In the third seat was ESA Astronaut Andre Kuipers of the Netherlands, on the Delta Mission. They spent the next two days chasing ISSy for rendezvous and docking, which took place at 12:01 AM (05:01 GMT) on 21 April. The three men were warmly greeted by the outgoing crew of Expedition 8. These were Commander Mike Foale and Flight Engineer Alexander "Sasha" Kaleri. A week of joint operations ensued, with the station being finally handed over to the Expedition 9 crew. Andre Kuipers, and the Expedition 8 crew entered their Soyuz TMA-3 vehicle to return to Earth on 29 April 2004.

During their six month stay aboard, the Expedition 9 crew carried out Four EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activity or spacewalk) and an extensive but flexible program of science. These included some 21 different experiments in five categories. These were Bioastronautics, the Physical Sciences, Space Product Development, Space Flight, and Space Biology. More can be learned about the Expedition 9 Science program Here, and Here.

With the arrival of the Expedition 10 Crew, and Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin of the Russian Space Forces, on 15 October 2004, the final week of Expedition 9 was at hand. As is usual practice, the two crews worked together for a week to familiarize the new men with their home in orbit. On 23 October at 4:08 PM CDT (21:08 GMT), the Soyuz TMA-4 undocked from ISSy for the return home. Cosmonaut Shargin was aboard with the Expedition 9 crew for the ride. A safe landing was achieved near Arkalyk Kazakhstan on 23 October at 7:36 PM CDT (00:36 24 October GMT). Expedition 9 was a productive and successful mission to ISS, and all ended very well. Total flight duration: 187 days 21 hours 17 minutes.

On 23 October, 2004, Soyuz TMA-4 undocked from ISSy after a six month stay. She carried Commander Gennady Padalka, Astronaut Mike Fincke, and Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin for the flight back to Earth. Padalka and Fincke were the homebound Expedition 9 crew of ISSy. Shargin had flown up to the station about a week before, aboard Soyuz TMA-5 with the Expedition 10 crew, for a 10 day visit in order to conduct scientific research.

This event has no anomalies in it. Personally, I had never witnessed the re-entry of a spacecraft, and thought I'd share this little treat with you. The firery re-entry of Soyuz TMA-4 on 23 October 2004 was filmed from ISSy by Astronaut Leroy Chao, and downlinked back to Houston later on. It's rather pretty to watch, and I hope you enjoy it.

In the sequence, we can see the two modules which were jettisoned by the crew before they went into the final phase of re-entry. These are the "Orbital" and "Instrument" modules. In the animated GIF to come, you can see them burn up in the atmosphere. We can also observe the "Descent" module continue on its journey through the atmosphere as it brakes its speed. Later on, it deployed its parachute for a soft landing northeast of Arkalyk Kazakhstan.

This NASA map, shows most of Kazakhstan, the location of Baykonur Cosmodrome, and the spot where Soyuz TMA-4 landed safely.

This is a very cold place in October, with temperatures below freezing in the pre-dawn hours when the landing took place.

Seen circled in yellow is the Soyuz descent module. This is where the three men are located in relative comfort to the flaming disintigration of the orbital and instrament modules they left behind.

Pointed out is a bad camera pixel to the lower left. It appears to move because Astronaut Chiao was panning the camera to follow Soyuz.

This is the "piece de resistance" of our brief look at the Soyuz re-entry. It is a beautiful sight, isn't it?

Rather spectacular how the discarded modules burn, eh? Note the explosions as various pressurized containers and spaces burst from the heat.

We hope that our little foray into Soyuz operations, and side trip into the "nuts and bolts" operations of ISSy, has been educational and enjoyable. Most people never witness such things as we presented on this page. Thanks for taking the time to have a look.

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These docking videos were recorded by ISS Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, operating a remote camera on the exterior of ISSy. It is rare that Astronauts and Cosmonauts operate the video equipment, but it does happen on occasion. The video recording was broadcast about an hour after the fact by NASA Select TV under the supervision of the CATO in Houston Mission Control.

(INCO - INstrument & Communication Officer - The man in Houston Mission Control Center who is responsible for operating the Shuttle payload bay, and robotic arm, cameras. He also remotely operates the helmet cameras in space suits. In the case of ISS, this officer is referred to as the CATO - Communications And Tracking Officer. In both cases, these persons CONTROL everything which is PERMITTED to go out on broadcast to the public. It is a commonly believed falacy that the cameras are operated by Astronauts & Cosmonauts on the Shuttles, and Space Station. Very little camera work is done by the crews. They're way too busy for that.)

At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.

© 2006 Jeff Challender