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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
on the performance of the Technical Board reviewing the causes of
implementing the ballistic mode of the Soyuz TMA-1 space vehicle
descent module return to Earth

May 14, 2003. Korolev, Moscow Region.

Today the first Vice-President of S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space
Corporation Energia, the first Deputy General Designer N.I.
Zelenschikov met with the representatives of some Russian information
agencies on the Corporation's premises. He familiarized the
journalists with the preliminary results of the activities conducted
by the Technical Board led by him, which is engaged reviewing the
possible causes of implementing the ballistic mode of the Soyuz TMA-1
descent module (DM) return to Earth. He noted that both this mode and
the controlled descent mode are nominal modes. It differs only in
that increased values of maximum g-load are experienced during
aerobraking phase in upper atmospheric layers and the Soyuz space
vehicle crews, therefore, are always prepared to implement this mode
too. It took more time than usually to conduct search and evacuation
activities regarding DM and the Expedition 6 crew of the
International Space Station (ISS) following their ground landing, due
to poor organization coordination and the shortage of funds, which
does not allow us to make use of the search and rescue means to the
extent possible during descent. These issues, which are within the
competence of the respective state organization and departments, are
expected to be resolved in the future with due regard for the
experience gained during the previous flights.

N.I. Zelenschikov stated that the Board experts thought that
implementation of the ballistic descent mode, probably, had occurred
because of the failure of one of the descent control system
instruments. The Board was tasked to detect the failure location, as
well as specify its origin, generate specific recommendations aimed
at preventing similar situations from recurrence during subsequent
flights of the Soyuz TMA space vehicles. At the present time, the
Checkout and Testing Facility at RSC Energia is engaged in the
activities related to the descent module of the Soyuz TMA-1 space
vehicle delivered from the landing site to the Corporation by May
7th, 2003. The activities are aimed at simulation of actual flight
situation under ground conditions. Also an integrated simulation of
the descent control system using the DM-specific onboard equipment is
currently under way.

The board, whose working groups involve the specialists from RSC
Energia, the Russian enterprises and agencies participating in the
ISS Project and manufacture of the Soyuz TMA space vehicles, proceeds
with its work. The conclusions and recommendations resulting from its
performance will be reported in late May - early June 2003. Regular
reports will be submitted to Rosaviakosmos and NASA as the Board
proceeds with its activities. At the close of the meeting with N.I.
Zelenschikov, the first Vice-President of RSC Energia, the first
Deputy General Designer, the journalists visited the Corporation's
Checkout and Testing Facility where they could see the Soyuz TMA-1 DM
and the assembly process of the Progress and Soyuz TMA-3 space
vehicles in support of the ISS Program implementation in 2003.

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