Soyuz TMA-17M

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  40744 / 15035A Launch date - time  22 July 2015 - 20:12 UT (21:02:44 UT_Ref #16) Launch site  Baikonur, LC1/5 Launch vehicle Soyuz-FG (#xx) Soyuz designation 11F732 nº Mass (kg)   kg Docking date - time  23 July 2015 - 02:45:07 UTC Target spacecraft/port  ISS/Rassvet Earth orbit on :    - Perigee / Apogee  400 x 402 km    - Inclination  °    - Period   51.7min Undocking date - time  11 Dec 2015 - 09:49:35 UTC Deorbit burn date - time  11 Dec 2015 - 12:19 UT Landing date - time  11 Dec 2015 - 13:12:14 UTC Landing location  48°27'31,74"N, 69°11'06,12"E Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  141d 16h 09m 30s Nbr orbits  2207 Landing crew  launched crew

The Soyuz TMA-17M patch is inspired on the design of the Apollo 17 patch. The main element in this logo is a portrait of Sergei Korolev, the legendary 'main constructor', who shaped the early years of Soviet cosmonautics. He is depicted watching the Soyuz spacecraft on its celestial voyage, trailing three red lines. They symbolize the three crewmembers, but also represent the three manned craft that Korolev developed; Vostok, Voskhod and Soyuz. Behind the earth, a red sun rises. After the American Apollo element and the Russian Korolev item, the sun is Japan's element in this design. credit: spacepatches.nl

Launched Crew

Backup Crew

Mission Report:

• ISS Expedition 44/45.
• After the failed docking of Progress M-27M to the ISS station on April 28, the launch of Soyuz TMA-17M was delayed from May 26 to middle of July 22, 2015.
• Soyuz TMA-17M was launched on Jul 22, 2015 and docked with the Rassvet module 6h 32min after launch carrying Oleg Kononeko, Kimiya Yui and Kjell Lindgren.
• The Soyuz TMA-17M crew of Kononenko, Yui and Lindgren landed on Dec 11, 2015. Soyuz TMA-17M undocked from Rassvet at 0949 UTC, made its deorbit burn at 1219 UTC, and landed in Kazakhstan at about 1312 UTC.
  
  

  Soyuz TMA-17M landing place.

  Soyuz TMA-17M cabine after landing

  
  
  
• Four parachutes, deployed 15 minutes before landing, dramatically slowed the vehicle's rate of descent. Two pilot parachutes were the first to be released, and a drogue chute attached to the second one followed immediately after. The drogue, measuring 24 square meters (258 square feet) in area, slowed the rate of descent from 755 feet (230 meters) per second to 262 feet (80 meters) per second.
  The main parachute was the last to emerge. It is the largest chute, with a surface area of 10,764 square feet (1,000 square meters). Its harnesses shifted the vehicle's attitude to a 30-degree angle relative to the ground, dissipating heat, and then shifted it again to a straight vertical descent prior to landing.
  The main chute slowed the Soyuz to a descent rate of only 24 feet (7.3 meters) per second, which is still too fast for a comfortable landing. One second before touchdown, two sets of three small engines on the bottom of the vehicle fired, slowing the vehicle to soften the landing.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Baikonur 23.07.15, registered mail. Note: On 22.07 was the postoffice already closed.