Russians inspect Soyuz for problems with ballistic trajectory

William Atkins
Wednesday, 02 July 2008 23:43

Science - Space

The space excursion will be performed in order to inspect the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft currently docked to the Space Station.

The two space travelers will check five locks that attach the descent module to the propulsion/avionics module. The descent module returns the cosmonauts to Earth.

The two cosmonauts will also remove one of the pyrotechnic bolts used to connect these two modules of the Soyuz. The bolt is suspected of being defective, and will be returned to Earth so that Russian engineers can inspect it.

NASA will televise the spacewalk on NASA TV beginning at 12:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) on July 10th.

The six-hour-estimated spacewalk is scheduled to actually begin at 1:18 p.m. CDT.

Additional information on the ballistic descents of Soyuz TMA-10 and Soyuz TMA-11 is reported on the Aviation Week website “NASA Urges Caution On Soyuz Reports.”