After a pressure drop in a space freighter’s cooling system, Russia has postponed its rocket launch to the International Space Station, scheduled for Feb. 20, to early March. The cause must first be determined, says space agency Roskosmos on Monday, according to the Tass agency.
The space freighter Progress MS-21, which has been attached to the ISS since October, has a leak. A leak had previously been discovered on the Soyuz MS-22 space shuttle, which is also attached to the ISS. Both cases were similar, said the head of Russia’s manned space program, Sergei Krikalev. “The most important thing is that we make sure it’s not a systematic error.”
Beautiful images of the Northern Lights from the ISS
Due to the leak on the Soyuz MS-22, the space capsule could not be sufficiently cooled. In order not to endanger the cosmonauts on the return flight, Roscosmos decided to send the ferry back to Earth unmanned – and instead return the astronauts with the successor ship Soyuz MS-23. It would fly unmanned from Baikonur to the ISS on February 20. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
