Gagarin microsatellite launched from ISS on second try
Russian cosmonauts carried out a fraught six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk on Thursday, releasing a student satellite commemorating Yuri Gagarin's first manned mission to space. The Kedr satellite will send greetings to radio enthusiasts in 15 languages, as well as photos and pressure data. Its release was delayed when cosmonauts saw it was missing one of two antennas. Read more
The ARISSat-1 or Radioskav-V satellite was launched by cosmonauts Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev from outside the International Space Station at 18:43 GMT.
DEPLOYMENT OF ARISSAT-1/KEDR SATELLITE EXPECTED AUGUST 3 - After a postponed deployment in February from the International Space Station (ISS), the ARISSat-1/KEDR amateur radio satellite is expected to begin its mission on August 3, 2011. This was the word received from Energia official, Sergey Samburov during an ARISS teleconference on July 19. Deployment of the craft is planned during EVA-29. NASA TV will cover the EVA live starting at 1400 GMT on August 3 Read more
Two Russian cosmonauts will leave the confines of the International Space Station on Aug.3 to move a cargo boom from one airlock to another, install a prototype laser communications system and deploy an amateur radio micro-satellite. Expedition 28 Flight Engineers Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev are scheduled to venture outside the Pirs airlock at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday to begin the six-hour excursion. Both spacewalkers will wear Russian Orlan-MK spacesuits. Coverage of the spacewalk will be broadcast live on NASA Television beginning at 10 a.m. EDT. Read more