01:23 GMT - UNDOCKING occurred!
The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft has separated from the space station after 161 days there, setting the stage for tonight's return to Earth with two NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut. The undocking occurred 225 miles over the Russian-Mongolian border.
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| Doug Wheelock, Fyodor Yurchikhin and Shannon Walker |
Some minutes before at 01:19 the International Space Station was placed into a "free drift" mode in preparation for the Soyuz departure. The complex was maneuvered into the proper orientation for undocking.
Command of the International Space Station now belongs to the new Expedition 26 commander Scott Kelly and Russians Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka. They will be joined by another American, a Russian and an Italian when the next Soyuz arrives on December 17.
The deorbit burn is coming up at 03:55:12 GMT, a braking maneuver lasting 4 minutes and 21 minutes, based on the latest timeline from Mission Control. Separation of the Soyuz modules is now expected at 04:20:30 and entry interface at 04:23:29. The parachutes deploy at 04:32:13, leading to touchdown around 04:46:34 GMT.
It was for the moment from Mission Control Center.
Juan Martín Canales Romero
ISS Columbus Operations Coordinator
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