Russia has postponed the launch of a ship to the ISS to bring two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut back to Earth. As Reuters reported on Monday, citing Roscosmos, this is due to an investigation into the reasons for the drop in pressure in another ship docked at the station.
Roscosmos and NASA announced that the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft is scheduled for February 20 to bring Sergei Prokopiev, Dmitry Petelin and Frank Rubio back to Earth.
However, in a video link, the head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, also said that the launch would take place no later than March 10, in order to give the investigation team time to find out the reasons for the fall of pressure in the cooling system. of the Progress MS-21 spacecraft. Its undocking from the station is scheduled for February 18.
Borisov also showed a photograph of the damaged section of the outer surface of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft. The photo was taken by American colleagues using a robotic arm. The damaged area may be related to a cooling system leak on December 15th.
The Soyuz MS-22 was originally supposed to bring three crew members back to Earth. But due to a leak, it will undocking and return unmanned.
The photograph showed a small hole surrounded by brown spots. Borisov said it could have been caused by a meteorite or small space debris.
Roscosmos said the damaged modules have been sealed off and isolated from other areas of the station, where the seven crew members – three Americans, three Russians, one Japanese – are placed in safe conditions.
As Reuters noted, despite tensions over the war in Ukraine, the United States and Russia continue to work closely together on the International Space Station.
Soyuz ships are used for the delivery and return of cosmonauts and astronauts, and Progress ships are used for the delivery of equipment and consumables.
