Due to a leak (video) from a Russian “Soyuz” capsule docked to the International Space Station, three astronauts are expected to return to Earth from the ISS later than planned. The return flight of two Russians and an American was originally scheduled for March.
The two cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio will fly back in Soyuz MS-23 instead of the Soyuz MS-22 capsule in which they docked at the ISS last September. The head of the Russian space agency Roskosmos, said Yuri Borisov on Wednesday.
Russians send capsule without crew
When exactly that will be, was not known at first. First, the “Soyuz MS-22” had to fly back to Earth unmanned, Roskosmos said. Then, on February 20, the “Soyuz MS-23” should be sent from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the ISS – en route also without a crew on board.
Micrometeoroid punches a hole in the cooling unit
The leak occurred in December on the Soyuz MS-22 capsule. Russian space experts suspected that the reason could have been the impact of a micrometeor. This assumption has now been confirmed, Borisov said. The outer coating and a cooling unit were damaged. Photos (pictured above) show coolant escaping into space through the leak.
NASA: No threat to ISS operation
Due to the defect, a planned spacewalk of Prokopjew and Petelin had to be canceled at the time. However, both Roscosmos and NASA assured that they see no danger to the operation of the outpost of humanity in space.
Source: Krone
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
