Preparations for the launch of the “Soyuz MS-16” manned spacecraft under the International Space Station program are ongoing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

This morning, April 6, 2020, in accordance with the decision of the State Commission, the “Soyuz-2.1a” launch vehicle was rolled out to the launch pad of site № 31.

After the rocket was placed in an upright position, the team of the enterprises of Roscosmos State Corporation began work on the schedule of the first launch day.

Today, autonomous tests of systems and assemblies of a manned spacecraft, launch vehicle and launch complex are being conducted.

The launch of the “Soyuz-2.1a” launch vehicle with the “Soyuz MS-16” manned spacecraft is scheduled for April 9, 2020 at 11:05:06(Moscow time).

The main crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Wagner, NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy, the backup crew – cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Babkin, astronaut Stephen Bowen.

The State Commission will be held on April 8, which will finally approve the composition of the main and backup crews.

On the same day, cosmonauts and astronauts will participate in online video conferencing instead of traditional communication with the press.

The live broadcast of the conference will begin at 10:00 (Moscow time) on the website of the Roscosmos State Corporation.