Russia to launch new capsule to return space station crew | 24CA News
Russian house company Roscosmos stated Wednesday that it’ll launch a brand new spacecraft to take a number of the International Space Station’s crew again to Earth after their capsule was broken and leaked coolant.
Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio arrived on the station in September on board a Soyuz MS-22 and deliberate to make use of the capsule to return to Earth. But it leaked coolant final month, leading to increased cabin temperatures.
After analyzing the state of affairs and discussing it with NASA, Roscosmos determined to launch a brand new Soyuz MS-23 capsule in crewless computerized mode on Feb. 20 that the trio will use to return again, Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov informed reporters.
The mission of Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio will probably be prolonged, Borisov stated with out specifying for a way lengthy. He emphasised that Roscosmos had mentioned the transfer with NASA, which agreed with the plan.
The Soyuz MS-23 was initially scheduled to be launched in March to hold two Russian cosmonauts and a U.S. astronaut into orbit.
Borisov stated Russian house officers had explored the choice of launching the brand new Soyuz with one crew member however determined towards it as a result of it could require longer preparations. He stated that the Soyuz MS-23 may even ferry some provides to the International Space Station.
In case of an emergency on the house station that might require the evacuation of your complete crew earlier than the brand new capsule arrives, house officers will think about whether or not the Soyuz MS-22 may very well be used safely, Borisov stated.
Caused by micrometeoroid
The leak from the Soyuz MS-22 was noticed in December when the Russians have been about to enterprise outdoors the station on a deliberate spacewalk and floor specialists noticed a stream of fluid and particles emanating from the Soyuz on a stay video feed from house.
Borisov stated Wednesday that the evaluation confirmed the leak was brought on by a micrometeoroid. He stated that the Soyuz MS-22 finally could be despatched again to Earth and not using a crew.
Roscosmos and NASA each have stated the incident hasn’t posed any hazard to the station’s crew. Officials from the Russian and U.S. house companies have been scheduled to talk collectively in regards to the present plans later Wednesday.
Along with Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio, 4 different crew members are at the moment on the house outpost: NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada; the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Koichi Wakata; and Anna Kikina of Roscosmos.
