The "Year in Space" coming to an end

[Randazzo]

Apologies if I missed an existing thread on this, but Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko are set to return to the surface of the Earth tonight after 340 days in space. Deorbit burn is scheduled for about an hour and a half from the time of this posting (10:32pm eastern US time) with landing approximately one hour after that.

NASA Television is covering it, naturally: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

[Bill Phil]

It's not one year if it ain't 365.

Although it's still awesome that the U.S. finally did that, a few decades behind the Russians.

[Glaran K'erman]

Really loved following the 43-46 crew, have been following all the events today.
I was going to keep an updated thread on the mission but it didn't seem to get too much traction here.

Edit: Expedition number

Edited March 2, 2016 by Glaran K'erman

[Randazzo]

1 minute ago, Glaran K'erman said:

Really loved following the 45/46 crew, have been following all the events today.
I was going to keep an updated thread on the mission but it didn't seem to get too much traction here.

I sure missed that one, strange that it seems such an unpopular topic on the forum.

I suppose it's more interesting when the rockets are going up than it is when the pods are coming down.

[Glaran K'erman]

1 minute ago, Randazzo said:

I suppose it's more interesting when the rockets are going up than it is when the pods are coming down.

Nothing like the instant gratification of a launch 

Though I have noticed that the people in the forum here like to discuss very technical topics. Which the ISS and it's missions can offer, but when it comes down to it the heart of what the station is all about it's people. Besides being a top-of-the-line laboratory, it's right now the most significant connection to manned spaceflight, a very special thing.

[AlamoVampire]

As i post this, they are under chute! Welcome home! Well done!

[sgt_flyer]

5mn before touchdown

[Glaran K'erman]

So close!

[Kilmeister]

26 minutes ago, Randazzo said:

I suppose it's more interesting when the rockets are going up than it is when the pods are coming down.

A huge rocket lifting off from the earth in a fiery extravaganza is a lot more compelling watch than listening to broken radio broadcasts while staring at a room that is staring at screens.  Everyone can view the former and get something out of it, while the latter is not as much of a broad appeal. That being said, I liked watching the screens in the Roscosmos mission control

[Randazzo]

5 minutes ago, Kilmeister said:

A huge rocket lifting off from the earth in a fiery extravaganza is a lot more compelling watch than listening to broken radio broadcasts while staring at a room that is staring at screens.  Everyone can view the former and get something out of it, while the latter is not as much of a broad appeal. That being said, I liked watching the screens in the Roscosmos mission control

Made me laugh.

Honestly I was hoping for some video feeds of the capsule coming down. I imagine they will have some later, assuming someone pointed a camera at it.

Edit: And I believe the capsule is on the ground at this point. Hard to translate the static and silence.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Randazzo

[sgt_flyer]

nasa's commentator talked about the visuals too - and just got confirmation of the landing from search crews

 

Welcome Home !

Edited March 2, 2016 by sgt_flyer

[Glaran K'erman]

16 minutes ago, Randazzo said:

Made me laugh.

Honestly I was hoping for some video feeds of the capsule coming down. I imagine they will have some later, assuming someone pointed a camera at it.

You need to remember this is the Russian space program, not as big on sharing live data. Two reasons, it's not perceived as a priority and second if something goes wrong...well at least only the audio was broadcast live. The US space program is much more media friendly when it comes to landing and the like. Also, it's all in Russian, the lady translating is doing her best but even the greatest translators have to consolidate here and there creating the illusion of a stunted speaker. Not to mention the complete lack of individual voices/tone/inflection makes for a pretty dull experience I agree. Just have to appreciate there is anything at all sometimes I guess.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Glaran K'erman

[Randazzo]

They just got video, and the crew is coming out live.

edit: Everybody is home safe. Commander Volkov looked a little green around the gills

Edited March 2, 2016 by Randazzo

[Glaran K'erman]

Sergey looked incredibly queasy haha. Can't wait until TIME finishes up the documentary they are doing, I think part of it is airing on PBS tomorrow/today.

 

Edit: Just showing the replay of the landing from trailing aircraft.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Glaran K'erman

[KAL 9000]

Welcome home astronauts/cosmonauts! Green around the gills? If this was KSP, he would look pink around the gills  .

[kerbiloid]

Now they can compare how Kelly's twin brother has withstanded a year without space,

[Emperor of the Titan Squid]

The russians didn't try to, they had to leave someone there.