OREANDA-NEWS. October 10, 2008. The meeting of the Mission Control Center operation and engineering management concluded about readiness of the ground control groups for upcoming Soyuz TMA-13 and Soyuz TMA-12 operations. The colculsion was made as a result of the training (simulations) for the MCC personnel completed recently.

The simulations were performed from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9. The objective was to exercise and to consolidate the skills of the operation control groups regarding Soyuz TMA-13 orbiting, ISS rendezvous and docking, as well as Soyuz TMA-12 departure and deorbiting.

The training scope covered actions of the crew and ground controllers in nominal situations and contingencies. In addition, the simulations were to check readiness of the MCC hardware and software for the upcoming operations.

Soyuz TMA-13 launch is scheduled for Oct. 12, 11:01 Moscow time (07:01 GMT). Soyuz TMA-12 landing is planned for Oct. 24, at 7:36 Moscow (03:36 GMT).