posted 09-18-2022 11:48 AM               

Soyuz MS-22 crew, rocket poised for launch

Soyuz MS-22 commander Sergey Prokopyev and flight engineer Dmitry Petelin of Roscosmos, together with NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, are set to launch to the International Space Station on Wednesday (Sept. 21) at 9:54 a.m. EDT (1354 GMT or 6:54 p.m. local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The Soyuz is scheduled to dock to the station's Rassvet mini-research module at about 1:11 p.m. EDT (1711 GMT) the same day, after a two-orbit rendezvous.

About two hours after docking, the hatches between the Soyuz and the space station will open and Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio will be greeted by Expedition 67 commander Oleg Artemyev and cosmonauts Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov of Roscosmos; NASA astronauts Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren and Jessica Watkins; and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio will spend about six months on the space station. This will be Prokopyev’s second flight into space and the first for Petelin and Rubio. Rubio is the first NASA astronaut to fly under a new crew barter agreement since U.S. commercial crew vehicles began flying.

On Sunday (Sept. 18), the Soyuz-2.1a rocket topped with the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft was rolled out to Pad 31/6 by train and erected into position.

posted 09-21-2022 09:13 AM               

Russia launches NASA astronaut to space station under new 'crew swap' agreement

A U.S. astronaut has lifted off for the International Space Station, flying in a seat on board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft that was reserved through the first "crew swap" agreement since before the end of the space shuttle program than 15 years ago.

Francisco "Frank" Rubio of NASA launched with Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin of Roscosmos, Russia's federal space corporation, on Wednesday (Sept. 21). Their Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft took flight on a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Site 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9:54 a.m. EDT (1354 GMT or 6:54 p.m. local time).

posted 09-21-2022 12:07 PM               

Soyuz MS-22 docks at space station

Cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin of Roscosmos and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday (Sept. 21), with the autonomous docking of Soyuz MS-22 to the Rassvet module at 1:06 p.m. EDT (1706 GMT).

Following standard pressurization checks, the hatches between the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft and the space station will be opened.

posted 12-14-2022 09:48 PM               

Coolant leak observed from Soyuz MS-22

A coolant leak has been observed emanating from Russia's Soyuz MS-22 crew spacecraft, which is docked to the Rassvet module on the International Space Station.

The leak was first detected on Wednesday (Dec. 14) at about 7:40 p.m. EST (0040 GMT on Dec. 15). Cameras on the exterior of the space station showed a steady stream of frozen flakes being ejected from the Soyuz into space. Although not yet confirmed, it was believed the source of the leak was an exterior coolant loop located near the aft section of the vehicle.

"The cause of this leak [is] not known at this time," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said during live commentary. "Russian specialists are continuing to look at the data and discussing what may have triggered the leak."

Flight controllers assured the crew that the space station was safe.

Soyuz MS-22 launched in September with Prokopyev, Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio. In addition to being the three crewmates planned ride home in March, the vehicle also serves as a "lifeboat" should an emergency aboard the space station require an evacuation of the crew.

The status of the Soyuz to carry astronauts back to Earth is unknown.

posted 12-16-2022 04:11 PM               

Soyuz performs successful thruster test

NASA and Roscosmos continue to evaluate an external leak that occurred Dec. 14, from the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked to the Rassvet module of the International Space Station. Roscosmos has identified the source of the leak as the external cooling loop of the Soyuz.

As part of the ongoing evaluation and investigation, Roscosmos flight controllers conducted a successful test of the Soyuz MS-22 thrusters at 3:08 a.m. EST Friday, Dec. 16. The systems that were tested were nominal, and Roscosmos assessments of additional Soyuz systems continue. Temperatures and humidity within the Soyuz spacecraft are within acceptable limits.

NASA is supporting the ongoing investigation with the use of the Canadarm2 robotic arm to provide additional viewing of the Soyuz exterior on Sunday, Dec. 18.

posted 12-19-2022 05:46 PM               

Imagery being analyzed of small hole in Soyuz

As part of the ongoing evaluation and investigation, a robotic inspection of the suspected leak area was completed Dec. 18, using cameras on the Canadarm2 robotic arm. A small hole was observed, and the surface of the radiator around the hole showed discoloration.

Roscosmos is evaluating the imagery to determine if this hole could have resulted from micrometeoroid debris or if it is one of the pre-manufactured radiator vent holes.

Space station operations and research continue while station managers and international partners collect and analyze data, and work to develop a forward course of action for the Soyuz and its crew.

posted 01-12-2023 11:37 AM               

Soyuz MS-22 to be replaced

Roscosmos engineers determined the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft is not viable for a normal crew return, but is available for crew return in an emergency aboard the space station.

The Soyuz MS-22 will be replaced by the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft that will launch to the space station without a crew on Monday, Feb. 20. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin will return to Earth in the replacement Soyuz after spending several additional months on the station.

posted 03-28-2023 10:31 AM               

Uncrewed Soyuz MS-22 lands in Kazakhstan

Roscosmos' uncrewed Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft made an automated, parachute-assisted landing in Kazakhstan at 7:46 a.m. EDT (1146 GMT or 5:46 p.m. Kazakhstan time) on Tuesday (March 28).

The spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station at 5:57 a.m. EDT (0957 GMT). Expedition 69 officially began aboard the space station at the time of undocking.