Prelaunch preparations of the Progress MS-16 cargo spacecraft for the launch under the program of the 77th resupply mission to the International Space Station continue at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Today RSC Energia specialists and core companies of Roscosmos completed a sequence of operations to mate Progress MS-16 to the adapter section of the third stage of the carrier rocket at the integration and test facility. The adapter section is a part of the ascent unit mechanically linking the spacecraft and the payload fairing, as well as integrating Progress MS-16 command interface into the Soyuz-2.1a rocket onboard control system. After mating, the spacecraft onboard radio complex and other support systems underwent checkout activations.
The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-16 is scheduled for February15, 2021 from Site No. 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
