News

Soyuz MS-18 is launched to the ISS
April 9, 2021

Today, on April 9, 2021 at 10:42 Moscow time launch vehicle Soyuz-2.1a with Soyuz MS-18 manned transportation spacecraft was launched from Pad 31 of the Baikonur Launch Site. On the ninth minute of the flight the spacecraft normally separated from the third stage and entered a target near-earth orbit.

Soyuz MS-18 crews confirmed
April 8, 2021

The State Commission for conducting flight tests of manned space systems has approved the primary and backup crews of Soyuz MS-18. In addition to this, the readiness of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle and the ground infrastructure for the launch under the program of ISS-65/66 Expeditions to the International Space Station has been confirmed.

Launch Vehicle with Soyuz MS-18 manned spacecraft is installed on the launch pad
April 6, 2021

This morning the integrated launch vehicle Soyuz-2.1а with the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-18 was rolled out of the launch vehicle integration and test facility and erected on the launch pad of Area 31 of the Baikonur Launch Site.
According to the L-2 day schedule the launch teams began to perform processing operations on preflight testing of ILV systems and assemblies with the interface check of the onboard and ground equipment of the rocket and space complex.

Final assembly of the launch vehicle with Soyuz MS-18 manned spacecraft
April 5, 2021

At the Baikonur Launch Site the planned pre-flight processing of the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz МS-18 under the program of Expeditions 65 and 66 to the International Space Station (ISS) is being completed.
Today specialists from RSC Energia and core enterprises of Roscosmos performed a set of processing operations on the final assembly of the integrated launch vehicle Soyuz-2.1а with Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft in the integration and test facility at Area 31 of the Baikonur Launch Site.

Soyuz МS-18 manned spacecraft is ready for final assembly with the Launch Vehicle
April 4, 2021

At the Baikonur Launch Site the ascent unit with the Soyuz-18 manned transportation spacecraft (MTS) was transported for the final assembly of the integrated launch vehicle.
Today specialists from RSC Energia and core enterprises of Roscosmos performed a set of processing operations on loading and sending the spacecraft to the assembly and test facility of the launch vehicle at Area 31.

Soyuz MS-18 crews performed a check inspection of the spacecraft
April 4, 2021

At the Baikonur Launch Site the participants of the upcoming expedition to the International Space Station performed the second “fitting”, i.e. a check inspection of the Soyuz-18 manned transportation spacecraft (MTS) in the flight configuration.
Following the introductory briefing the prime and backup crewmembers in turns took their places in the spacecraft, familiarized themselves with the accommodation of the payloads and equipment in the descent module and habitable compartment, as well as checked the functionality of the onboard systems in a test mode.

Designer’s Inspection of Soyuz MS-18 and Encapsulation of the Fairing
April 2, 2021

At the Baikonur Launch Site the pre-launch processing of manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-18 for launch on April 9 to the International Space Station (ISS) under the ISS-65/66 Expeditions program is in progress.
According to the processing schedule, the specialists from RSC Energia and core enterprises of Roscosmos conducted a designer’s inspection of Soyuz MS-18, performed processing operations on encapsulation of the fairing, and checked the launch readiness of the spacecraft within the ascent unit.

Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft is mated to the adapter section
March 31, 2021

At the Baikonur Launch Site the pre-launch processing of the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-18 under the program of Expeditions 65 and 66 to the International Space Station (ISS) is in progress.
In accordance with the processing schedule, the specialists from RSC Energia and core enterprises of Roscosmos performed a set of processing operations on mating the Soyuz MS-18 to the adapter section of the launch vehicle upper stage block.

Soyuz MS-18 has been fueled with propellant components and compressed gases
March 30, 2021

At the Baikonur Launch Site the specialists from RSC Energia and core enterprises of Roscosmos completed fueling of manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-18 with propellant components and compressed gases.

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