RSC Energia: Spacecraft Soyuz МS-02 approached the ISS

RSC Energia: Spacecraft Soyuz МS-02 approached the ISS

The spacecraft carries onboard the crew consisting of ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov, ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Andrei Borisenko and NASA astronaut Robert Shane Kimbrough.

The launch vehicle Soyuz-FG with spacecraft Soyuz MS-02 was launched from Site No.31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome on October 19 at 11:05 Moscow time. The spacecraft Soyuz MS-02 separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle nominally at the expected time and started to approach the ISS using a classic 34-orbit rendezvous profile. This profile was selected because it is traditionally considered as more reliable and suitable for developmental testing of upgraded spacecraft systems.

After about two days in free flight the spacecraft reached the station. The docking with the Mini Research Module (MRM2) Poisk was performed in the automatic mode. The contact of the vehicles was detected at 12:52:27 Moscow Time, and the mechanical capture was performed at 12:58 Moscow Time. The rendezvous and docking used the improved RF system Kurs-NA.

After performing preparatory operations (removing and drying spacesuits, performing a leak test of compartments and the docking interface, equalizing pressure, etc.), transfer hatches between the spacecraft and the ISS will be open, and the newly arrived crewmembers will transfer to the station. There they will be met by ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Anatoli IVANISHIN, JAXA astronaut Takuya ONISHI and NASA astronaut Kathleen RUBINS.

During their stay on the ISS the ROSCOSMOS cosmonauts and NASA astronaut being members of the ISS-49 and ISS-50 Increments are supposed to perform transport cargo vehicle operations; flight tests of the new spacecraft, and test the new systems, i.e. onboard radio system, combined propulsion system, motion control and navigation system, television system. The cosmonauts also will have to ensure undocking of Soyuz MS, return of the three ISS-48/49 crew members to the Earth, and docking of Soyuz MS-03 carrying the crewmembers of the ISS-50/51 Increment. The applied scientific research program envisages 54 scientific experiments in various areas like bio-medical, geophysical, biotechnological, etc. The total planned duration of the crew flight will be 130 days.

The manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS developed and built by RSC Energia is designed to deliver the crews of up to three and their accompanying cargos to the International Space Station (ISS), as well as to return them to Earth. When attached to the ISS, it also serves as a crew rescue vehicle and is kept permanently ready for emergency crew return to Earth.

The new-series spacecraft Progress MS and Soyuz MS were developed as a result of a radical upgrade of Progress M and Soyuz TMA spacecraft. The onboard command radio system Kvant-B was replaced with an integrated command and telemetry system with an additional telemetry channel. The new command radio link will make it possible to receive signals via relay satellites Luch-5, which will significantly increase the radio coverage zone for the spacecraft - up to 70% of an orbit. The spacecraft are equipped with an advanced onboard radio system for rendezvous and docking Kurs-NA. As compared to an earlier model, Kurs-A, it has improved mass and dimensions parameters and makes it possible to delete from the spacecraft hardware configuration one of the three radio antennas. Instead of the analog TV system Klyost, the spacecraft uses a digital TV system, which makes it possible to maintain communications between the spacecraft and the station via a space-to-space RF link. Also included into the onboard equipment of the Soyuz MS and Progress MS series spacecraft to replace the equipment that is being phased out of production is a new Digital Backup Loop Control Unit developed by RSC Energia, an upgraded Rate Sensor Unit BDUS-3A and a LED headlight SFOK. Thanks to the use of new ground and onboard radio systems, it became possible to use state-of-the-art data transmission protocols, which resulted in improved operational stability of spacecraft control system. Most of the technical solutions laid down in Soyuz MS and Progress MS spacecraft design will be used in development of new-generation manned transportation spacecraft Federatsiya being developed by RSC Energia.

The Mini Research Module Poisk (MRM-2) is the fourth module of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) which along with the performance of science experiments is intended both for docking of manned transportation and cargo vehicles and supporting EVA activities. Module Poisk was delivered to the ISS on November 12, 2009 on vehicle-module Progress М-MRM2.

RSC Energia is the leader in the rocket and space industry, and the prime contractor for manned space systems. The Corporation conducts work on the development of unmanned space and rocket systems (launch vehicles and orbital transfer vehicles), and high-technology systems for various non-space applications. Since August 2014, the Corporation is headed by Vladimir Lvovich Solntsev.

SC ROSCOSMOS is a State Corporation that was established in August 2015 to oversee and implement a comprehensive reform of the Russian space industry. State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS ensures the implementation of the Russian government's space program and its legal regulation. ROSCOSMOS is also placing orders for the development, manufacture and supply of space equipment and space infrastructure objects. The state corporation is also responsible for international space cooperation and arranging conditions for the future use of results of space activities in the social and economic development of Russia.

RSC Energia press-center