News

Soyuz MS-16 docked to the ISS

April 9, 2020

Six hours after the launch at 17:13 Moscow time the manned spacecraft Soyuz MS-16 performed a nominal docking to the Poisk module of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station. A four-orbit rendezvous profile for Soyuz and the Station was planned by the flight program.

The rendezvous was performed automatically under supervision of specialists of the Lead Operational Control Team of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station at the Mission Control Center. At present, the crews are performing preparatory operations to open the transfer hatches, i.e. conducting leak checks of the spacecraft compartments and equalizing pressure between the ISS and Soyuz, as well as taking off spacesuits in the habitation module.

Earlier on April 9, 2020 at 11:05:06 Moscow time the launch vehicle Soyuz-2.1a carrying the manned spacecraft Soyuz МS-16 was successfully launched from the Baikonur Launch Site. It delivered to the ISS the international crew, with call signals Irkuty, consisting of Roscosmos cosmonaut Аnatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy.