Continuing at Baikonur Cosmodrome is the processing of the cargo transportation spacecraft (CTS) Progress MS-20 for launch under the program of the 81th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Today, as per schedule, the spacecraft was brought to the anechoic chamber in the integration and test facility of Site 254 for stand-alone electric tests.
The anechoic chamber of the processing facility is a special room lined on the inside with a material that absorbs radio emissions thus simulating space environment. For the next few days, specialists from RSC Energia and Space Center Yuzhny will be running ground functionality checks on the onboard radio rendezvous and docking equipment of CTS Progress MS-20. Upon completion of the tests, the spacecraft will be installed into a jig at the integration and test facility to undergo preparations for pressure-and-vacuum tests.
The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle carrying Progress MS-20 is scheduled for June, 2022 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.