June 24, 2019
Categories: ISS, Soyuz

The work of the 59th long expedition is being completed at the International Space Station (ISS).

The crew members of the “Soyuz MS-11” spacecraft – Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques and NASA astronaut Anne McClain are preparing to return to Earth.

On June 23 aboard the “shift change” of crews was performed.

The commander of the 59th long expedition to the ISS – cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, who headed it since December 2018, and the commander of the 60th expedition – cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin signed the report of the transfer of authority.

By tradition, this ceremony is accompanied by strikes on the ship’s bell.

Currently, Oleg Kononenko, David Saint-Jacques and Anne McClain are engaged in preparatory operations for landing.

In the descent vehicle, the crew will bring with them the equipment to be returned and the containers with the results of the scientific experiments.

The closing of the access hatches between the “Soyuz MS-11” and the ISS is scheduled at 23:10 (Moscow time) on June 24, undocking – at 02:25 (Moscow time) on June 25 and landing of the descent vehicle –
at 05:49 (Moscow time) in 148 km south-east of Zhezkazgan (Kazakhstan).

All operations will be broadcast live in the “Online Broadcast” section of the Roscosmos State Corporation website (www.roscosmos.ru).

Work in near-earth orbit will be continued by an international crew, consisting of cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch.

Before the arrival of the “Soyuz MS-13” spacecraft in July 2019, just three crew members will be aboard of the ISS.

More from this category:
February 24, 2021

As part of the four GRUS spacecraft (GRUS-1 B, C, D, E) pre-launch processing, the Axelspace’s (Japan) team completed software tests, charged onboard batteries, checked…

full story
January 17, 2022

The image captures the crater’s central uplift – raised from depth during the impact event that carved out the crater itself – and a variety…

full story
August 22, 2014

Russia and USA interrupted cooperation in the field of space exploration particularly the agreement for joint protection against asteroids but it won’t prevent private cooperation B612…

full story
March 22, 2020

The “Soyuz-2.1b” launch vehicle with the “Fregat” upper stage and 34 satellites of the OneWeb communications system was successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on…

full story
March 14, 2020

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a joint team of specialists from the RSC “Energia” and The Yuzhny Space Center (parts of Roscosmos State Corporation) completed the…

full story
September 4, 2014

At the beginning of exam the crews got the cards with the list of off-nominal situations possible during the “training flight” on Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft…

full story
June 3, 2021

The Poisk Mini-Research Module exit hatch is closed now, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov have completed the 48th planned spacewalk (VKD-48). During…

full story
February 19, 2019

At the Baikonur cosmodrome preparations are continuing for the launch of the “Soyuz MS-12” spacecraft. Completed checking the systems and compartments of the ship for…

full story