The Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle launched the Soyuz MS-23 unmanned spacecraft into orbit, which will replace the damaged Soyuz MS-22 on the ISS. It is reported by Interfax with reference to Roskosmos.
The spacecraft separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle at 03:33 Moscow time and headed for the ISS. Its flight will take place according to a two-day scheme, docking to the Poisk module is scheduled for February 26 at 04:01 Moscow time.
In the materials of Roscosmos for the launch, it is noted that during the flight the ship will make 33 orbits around the Earth, on the way to the ISS it will overcome 4.2 million km.
The Soyuz-2.1a rocket with the Soyuz MS-23 unmanned spacecraft launched at 03:24 Moscow time from pad No. 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
According to the state corporation, the ship will stay in orbit for 215 days.
On February 22, Sergey Krikalev, executive director of Roskosmos for manned programs, announced that the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft would dock with the station in automatic mode and there would be enough fuel reserves for several attempts. According to him, the possibility of re-berthing to the ISS will minimize the risks – in the event of an automatic docking failure, the ship will be able to reorient itself to a node located on another module of the station.
The Russian-American crew of the damaged Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopiev, Dmitry Petelin and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio, will be able to return to Earth on Soyuz MS-23 in the fall.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
