International Space Station Expedition 16 have experienced high deceleration forces during the re-entry of their Soyuz TMA-11 flight.

The Soyuz spacecraft was either commanded or automatically entered into a ballistic re-entry due to anomalous data from it’s guidance systems. A ballistic trajectory is considerably steeper than a normal trajectory and causes the aerodynamic braking to increase much faster than during a shallow re-entry. It’s probably testament to the design of the Soyuz that it can withstand such a manouver.

CDR Peggy Whitson, FE1 Yuri Malenchenko and Spaceflight Participant Yi So-yeon experienced up to 10Gs of sustained deceleration to ultimately land about 295 miles off their original target in the Khazakh Steppes . Due to the distance involved, recovery forces took 45 minutes to reach the capsule. The crew were given medical examinations on site.

My understanding is that the ballistic re-entry profile is a fail-safe mode where the full guidance system cannot be relied on to execute the shallow re-entry profile correctly. I would guess that the ballistic profile is initiated by a relatively straight forward extended burn by the motor on the PAO to reduce orbital velocity and create a ballistic descent.

The European Space Agency’s Jules Verne ATV has successfully docked with the International Space Station.

The automated docking procedure seemed to run without a hitch and the ATV hard docked to the station.

Work is now underway to connect up electrical, data and ancilliary systems prior to opening the hatch on the 20 tonne ATV which is carrying 9 tonnes food, water, fuel and general stores for the ISS.

ESA’s Jules Verne ATV is scheduled to make it’s first full docking attempt with the ISS tomorrow. The ATV which arrived in the vicinity of the International Space Station on the 29th of March after a successful launch has already carried out several approach and collision avoidance demonstrations.

The 20 tonne ATV is carrying 9 tonnes of cargo and supplies for the cosmonauts and astronauts aboard the ISS. I believe the docking is scheduled for 16:41 CEST / 15:41 BST / 1441 ZULU April 3

NASA TV will have coverage (available online) and ESA will presumably be providing a webcast (hopefully in the same high-quality as the launch coverage).

In the early hours of March the 19th 2008, world famous space novelist Arthur C Clarke passed away at his home in Columbo, Sri Lanka.

His aide, Rohan De Silva, said that he died of breathing problems. Clarke had suffered from debilitating post-polio syndrome since the 1960s.

Clarke was alway prescient when predicting the future and he was recorded by TVE Asia Pacific in December 2007 talking of his life, his works and also saying ‘goodbye’ to his fans.

I wholeheartedly recommend his works but advise the avoidance of the Rama sequels (the original Rendevous with Rama, penned solely by Clarke is superb)

Clarke was an inspiration to me and I am thankful for the extent of his works, some of which I am still yet to read.

Space Shuttle Endeavour has launched successfully on a mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour carries the Japanese Experiment Module and the Canadian built SPDM which is something of a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ manipulator for handling modules and parts on the outside of the station.

Also in orbit just now is the European Space Agency’s Jules Verne ATV which launched from Kourou in French Guiana on the 9th. The ATV launch and deployment went well but the number two Propulsion Drive Electronics unit detected a difference in pressure between the fuel and oxidiser on one of the four main propulsion units. Flight controllers are evaluating the fault but remain confident that ISS rendezvous can easily be completed on the other three units.

The ATV is due at the station on the 29th, approximately 3 days after Endeavour leaves (depending on final duration of STS-123). Final docking of the ATV should occur on the 3rd of April.

You will be able to watch the Launch of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle online tonight from a number of sources.

First, there’s the ESA site. [Windows Media or RealPlayer - French or English commentary] I’ve no idea what the quality of their stream is like yet as the transmission only goes live an hour before launch.

Then there’s Ariane Space who also provide their own stream.

Finally, NASA TV should be carrying the stream although they haven’t updated their schedules to reflect the 24hr delay. You should be able to find my preferred high-quality Yahoo! / Akamai relay here.

I also found this Progress docking approach video via the ESA ATV blog which is nothing short of stunning. It’s speeded-up so you get to see the ISS rotate in your first-person field of view as the Progress resupply vehicle maneuvers around it.

The Jules Verne ATV is scheduled to launch atop it’s Ariane 5 launch vehicle at 04:03 ZULU Sunday (05:03 CET)

Update:  ESA have a really good quality stream via Akamai so I recommend using that one.

Photo Credit: ESA / D.Ducros