Soyuz TMA-15M
{{Short description|2014 Russian crewed spaceflight to the ISS}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Soyuz TMA-15M
| image = ISS-44 Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft undocks.jpg
| image_caption = Soyuz TMA-15M undocks from the ISS, 11 June 2015.
| insignia =
| mission_type = ISS crew transport
| operator = Roscosmos
| COSPAR_ID = 2014-074A
| SATCAT = 40312
| mission_duration =199d 16h 42m 46s
| distance_travelled =
| orbits_completed =
| spacecraft = Soyuz 11F732A47 No.715
| spacecraft_type = Soyuz-TMA 11F747
| manufacturer = Energia
| launch_mass =
| landing_mass =
| launch_date = 23 November 2014
21:00:14 UTC
| launch_rocket = Soyuz-FG
| landing_date = 11 June 2015
13:44 UTC{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/international-space-station-partners-adjust-spacecraft-schedule|title=International Space Station Partners Adjust Spacecraft Schedule|author=NASA|year=2015}}
| landing_site =
| crew_size = 3
| crew_members = Anton Shkaplerov
Samantha Cristoforetti
Terry W. Virts, Jr.
| crew_callsign = Астрей ("Astraeus")
| crew_photo = Soyuz TMA-15M crew during a routine operations training session at JSC.jpg
| crew_photo_caption = (l-r) Shkaplerov, Cristoforetti and Virts
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination =
| orbit_period =
| apsis = gee
| docking =
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = ISS
| docking_type = dock
| docking_port = Rassvet nadir
| docking_date = 24 November 2014
02:49 UTC
| undocking_date = 11 June 2015
10:20 UTC
| time_docked = 199 days, 7 hours, 31 minutes
}}
| previous_mission = Soyuz TMA-14M
| next_mission = Soyuz TMA-16M
| programme = Soyuz programme
(Crewed missions)
}}
Soyuz TMA-15M was a 2014 flight to the International Space Station. It transported three members of the Expedition 42 crew to the International Space Station. TMA-15M was the 124th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first flight launching in 1967. The Soyuz remained docked to the space station for the Expedition 43 increment, serving as an emergency escape vehicle until departing and returning to Earth as scheduled in June 2015.
Crew
{{Spaceflight crew
|terminology = Crew Member
|position1 = Commander
|crew1_up ={{Flagicon|RUS}} Anton Shkaplerov
|agency1_up = Roscosmos
|flights1_up = Second
|expedition1_up = Expedition 42
|position2 = Flight Engineer 1
|crew2_up ={{Flagicon|ITA}} Samantha Cristoforetti
|agency2_up = ESA
|flights2_up = First
|expedition2_up = Expedition 42
|position3 = Flight Engineer 2
|crew3_up ={{Flagicon|USA}} Terry W. Virts, Jr.
|agency3_up = NASA
|flights3_up = Second and last
|expedition3_up = Expedition 42
}}
=Backup crew=
{{Spaceflight crew
|terminology = Crew Member
|references = {{Cite web|url=http://www.astronaut.ru/register/or_flight.htm|title=Орбитальные полёты|author=astronaut.ru|year=2013}}
|position1 = Commander
|crew1_up ={{Flagicon|RUS}} Oleg Kononenko
|agency1_up = Roscosmos
|position2 = Flight Engineer 1
|crew2_up ={{Flagicon|JPN}} Kimiya Yui
|agency2_up = JAXA
|position3 = Flight Engineer 2
|crew3_up ={{Flagicon|USA}} Kjell N. Lindgren
|agency3_up = NASA
}}
Mission highlights
=Launch, rendezvous and docking=
Soyuz TMA-15M launched successfully aboard a Soyuz-FG rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 21:01 UTC on Sunday, 23 November 2014. The spacecraft reached low Earth orbit approximately nine minutes after lift-off. After executing rendezvous maneuvers, the Soyuz docked with the International Space Station at 02:49 UTC on 24 November, with hatch opening occurring at 05:00 UTC.{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Stephen|title=Live coverage: US-Russian-Italian crew set for Soyuz launch|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/11/23/exp-42-launch-mission-status-center/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=23 November 2014}}
Soyuz TMA-15M was scheduled to remain docked to the ISS—serving as an emergency escape vehicle, planned to be on-board until May 2015. The landing was delayed until June 2015, when it was set to depart and return Shkaplerov, Cristoforetti and Virts to Earth.
Cristoforetti commemorated the spaceflight by gifting three Lego minifigures of herself, Virts and Shkaplerov to the other members of the Expedition 42 crew. They had been commissioned by ESA and built by a British custom Lego kitmaker.{{cite web | title=Astronauts get their own LEGO minifigures on space station | website=collectSPACE.com | date=8 January 2015 | url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-010815a-lego-minifigures-space-station.html | access-date=26 May 2023}}
=Undocking and return to Earth=
Soyuz TMA-15M accidentally fired its engines one day before undocking. The one minute burn slightly shifted ISS position.
Soyuz TMA-15M undocked from the ISS at 10:20 UTC on 11 June 2015, containing Shkaplerov, Cristoforetti, and Virts. Following a deorbit burn, the Soyuz spacecraft's descent module reentered the Earth's atmosphere. The crew landed safely in Kazakhstan at 13:44 UTC on 11 June, just over three hours after departing the ISS.
Gallery
File:Expedition 42 Soyuz Rollout (201411210014HQ).jpg|Rollout of Soyuz TMA-15M rocket.
File:Expedition 42 Soyuz Preparation (201411240005HQ).jpg|Soyuz TMA-15M on the launch pad after rollout.
File:Expedition 42 Crew Wave (201411240004HQ).jpg|Crew of Soyuz TMA-15M wave to spectators before launch.
File:Expedition 42 Launch (201411240001HQ).jpg|Soyuz TMA-15M launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
File:Expedition 43 Soyuz TMA-15M Landing (201506110001HQ).jpg|TMA-15M lands in Kazakhstan.
References
{{commons category|Soyuz TMA-15M}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Soyuz}}
{{Crewed ISS flights}}
{{Orbital launches in 2014}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Soyuz TMA-M15}}
Category:Crewed Soyuz missions
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2014