An echelon with a new module of the Russian segment of the International Space Station was sent on the night of August 11, 2020 from the Rocket and Space Plant of the G. M.V. Khrunichev (part of the State Corporation “Roscosmos”) at the Baikonur cosmodrome. Experts of the Khrunichev Center with a positive result completed the full cycle of pneumatic tests of the “Science” module.
In agreement with the Russian Railways company, a train with a module was sent from the Khrunichev Center to the technical complex of site No. 254 of the Baikonur cosmodrome to the departure window from 10 to 11 August. All operations on preparation for its transportation, loading into railway units and dispatch took place normally.
Upon arrival of the module at the technical complex of the cosmodrome, specialists from the Khrunichev Center will carry out work to prepare all its systems for complex tests. Based on the results of complex tests of the module and their assessment, the calculations of the Russian rocket and space industry will begin preparing it for launch to the International Space Station.
The cycle of control checks and prelaunch preparation of the Nauka module will take about 9 months, after which it will be launched into the target orbit and included in the Russian segment of the station.
