News Archive

Today, on March 13, the State Commission at the Baikonur cosmodrome approved the main and backup crews of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft and confirmed the readiness of the "Soyuz-FG / Soyuz MS-12" rocket-space complex and the ground infrastructure to the launch according to the International Space Station (ISS) program. The launch of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft with the crew of the next long expedition to the ISS is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from site № 1 (Gagarinsky Start) of the Baikonur cosmodrome.

Today, on March 12, the "Soyuz-FG" launch vehicle with the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft was roll out from the Assembly and Test building to the launch pad. Works began on the program of the first launch day. The launch of "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft with the crew of the next long expedition to the ISS is scheduled for March 14, 2019. The main crew of the ISS-59/60 includes Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch.

Today, on March 11, representatives of the technical management and the state commission at the Baikonur cosmodrome issued a decision on the readiness of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft and "Soyuz-FG" launch vehicle for roll out and installation on the launch pad. The launch of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft with the crew of the next long expedition to the ISS is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from site № 1 (Gagarinsky Start) of the Baikonur cosmodrome.

In the morning of March 10, at the site № 254 of the Baikonur cosmodrome in accordance with the pre-launch preparation plan, the main crew (Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch) and the back-up crew (Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan) of the 59 / 60th long expedition to the ISS began a control checkup inspection of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft. After the introductory briefing, the cosmonauts and astronauts checked the composition and placement of cargo and equipment in the descent vehicle and the living compartment. According to the pre-launch tradition, the main and backup crews of the ISS-59/60 also visited the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum, famous for its unique collection of exhibits.

The specialists of the RSC "Energia" at the Baikonur cosmodrome continue to work on the preparation for the flight of the space rocket with the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft to the International Space Station. In accordance with the preparation schedule on March 6, the author's inspection of the ship was performed. In addition, technological operations of the head fairing rolling of the "Soyuz-FG" rocket were performed. Earlier, on March 4, the spacecraft was docked with the transfer compartment of the launch vehicle.

Valentina Tereshkova - the world's first female cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union, professor of the Air Force Engineering Academy, Major -General of Aviation, celebrates her birthday today. Valentina Tereshkova (call sign - “Chaika”) made her space flight on June 16-19, 1963 as commander of the "Vostok-6" spacecraft according to the group flight program with the "Vostok-5" spacecraft, piloted by Valery Bykovsky. Now Valentina Tereshkova is the member of the State Parliament of Russia, deputy chairman of the Parliament committee of federal structure and local government issues. RussianSpaceNews.com team sincerely congratulates "Chaika" with her birthday!

At Baikonur, preparations continue for the planned on March 14 flight of a space rocket with the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft is being prepared for launch under the ISS program in the assembly and test facility of the Baikonur cosmodrome, where the ship was delivered on Saturday, March 2. On March 4, in accordance with the schedule of prelaunch works, the specialists of the RSC "Energia" completed a set of technological operations for the assembly of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft with the transfer compartment of the launch vehicle. The launch of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft with the crew of the next long expedition to the ISS is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from site № 1 (Gagarinsky Start) of the Baikonur cosmodrome.

At the Baikonur cosmodrome, RSC Energia specialists completed operations to refuel the Soyuz MS-12 transport manned vehicle with fuel components…

The first in the history private manned spacecraft "Crew Dragon", produced by the American company "SpaceX", made docking with the International Space Station (ISS)., the ISS’s Twitter account reports on Sunday, March 3. "Crew Dragon", or "Dragon-2", is a private spacecraft of the American company "SpaceX", developed by order of NASA, designed to deliver astronauts to the ISS and return to Earth. It was put into orbit in test mode on March 2 by the "Falcon 9" launch vehicle.

Today, at the Baikonur cosmodrome, in front of the "Cosmonaut" Hotel, a ceremony was held to raise the flags of countries, participating in the "Soyuz MS-12" international launch to the International Space Station. The traditional event, which symbolizes the official start of the final stage of crew preparation for a launch, was attended by the main and backup crews of the 59 / 60th long expedition to the ISS. Roskosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Alexander Skvortsov raised the Russian flag, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch - the USA flag, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan - the flag of Kazakhstan.