ISSCOM 20 October 2003 (041)

Soyuz-TMA3:
Communications during approach and after docking: During the first pass of ISS and S-TMA3 within range of the Netherlands in ISS orbit 28054, 0701-0708UTC, voice traffic about the operation could be monitored.
For voice contacts from the S-TMA3 and the ISS the VHF channels 121.750 and 143.625 mc were in use.
Kaleri reported details of the approach, which was going on with the use of the automatic mode with the system Kurs. It was clear that this system was in use for Kaleri reported that the system had selected another AKR. The AKR is one of the many antennas of the system Kurs. Kaleri did not specify which one was involved.
In spite of the change of the AKR antenna the approach went on and already during the pass it was clear that permission for the docking had been given and that the ship was heading for the docking port.

Soyuz-TMA3 docked at the Pirs docking compartment at 0716UTC.
During the first pass after the docking in ISS orbit 28055 there was not much radio traffic. Kaleri waited for permission from TsUP to equalise the air pressures between the ship and the station.
When in the next pass the ISS came in range of the Netherlands the preparations for the opening of the hatches was going on. Kaleri and Malenchenko coordinated this operation and at 1018UTC they opened the hatches. Immediately the crews met each other.
The series of communication sessions for this days and within the range of the Netherlands was concluded between 1146 and 1156UTC. Kaleri reported that the ship had been conserved, the space suits were drying, that a purification cartridge had been replaced and that the cosmonauts interchanged their seat-liners.

Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202