The spacecraft “Soyuz MS-02” was successfully released into orbit and headed to the International space station. On Board are three members of the ISS crew.
As reports TASS with reference to the representative of the state Corporation “Roscosmos”, the spacecraft separated from the third stage of the carrier rocket “Soyuz-FG”. Autonomous flight of “Soyuz-MS” will last two days and not six, as usual. Using this scheme it is planned to test the ship’s systems to a new series. Docking of “Soyuz MS-02” to the Poisk module of the Russian segment of ISS is scheduled 12.59 on October 21, Moscow time.
The ISS went Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrei Borisenko, and American astronaut Robert Shane Kimbrough. They will replace the crew of expedition 50/51 (Russian Oleg Novitsky, Frenchman Thomas Sands and American Peggy Whitson).
Also on the “Union” is a particle of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov. After the flight of this crew, which will last about six months, she will be transferred to the Church of the Transfiguration in Star city.
The new crew of the ISS will be in orbit for 155 days, said “Interfax”. Russian cosmonauts will conduct more than 50 biological, biotech, geophysical, technical and medical experiments. In addition, the crew will work with the space of “trucks” – the Russian “Progress MS”, the American “Dragon” and the Japanese HTV. They also will service the on-Board systems of the ISS and its retrofitting.
Initially, the launch of “Soyuz MS-02” was scheduled for September 23, but was postponed due to cable fault in the control system of the lander.
“Union MS” (“MS,” – “upgraded system”) – the new Russian manned spacecraft. It was based on a series of “Soyuz TMA”, which was operated in 2002-2011 the New version differs from previous updated command and telemetry system capable of using relay satellites “Luch”. On ships of a new system of rendezvous and docking “Rate-AT” as well as an improved power supply system. They are equipped with solar panels for greater productivity.
The first ship of this series was launched to the ISS on 7 July this year. The first launch vehicle “Soyuz” family took place in 1966, the first manned flight in 1967.
