Soyuz capsule launched for unusual ‘lifeboat’ mission

With approximately 430 kilograms of cargo for the crew on board, including medical devices and equipment for scientific experiments, the capsule is scheduled to dock at the ISS at 2:01 CET on Sunday.

The unusual mission became necessary because the MS-22 ferry docking at the ISS has a leak – possibly caused by a micrometeorite. Liquid leaking from the cooling system made the return of two Russians and an American risky.

Cosmonauts Sergei Prokopjew and Dmitri Petelin, who came to the ISS with MS-22 in September, and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio are scheduled to return to Earth with MS-23 in the fall. Meanwhile, the damaged MS-22 capsule can return unmanned from the ISS.

In addition to Prokopjew, Petelin, and Rubio, Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, Koichi Wakata, and Anna Kikina, nicknamed “Crew-5,” are currently aboard the ISS. “Crew-6” is also expected next week – Americans Stephen Bowen, Warren Hoburg, Russian Andrei Fedjajew and Emirati Sultan al-Nijadi. A few days after Elon Musk’s arrival with a “Crew Dragon” from the private space company SpaceX, “Crew-5” must return to Earth.

Russia and the United States have been working closely together at the space station about 400 kilometers above the earth for over 20 years, but the relationship fell into a serious crisis just a year ago due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, both countries continue to cooperate in space.

According to the state agency TASS, the scientific and technical council of the Russian space agency Roskosmos decided a few days ago “after detailed consultations” to continue using the Russian part of the ISS until 2028.

(SDA)

Source : Blick