Russian manned vehicle Soyuz will be launched to the ISS according to 6-hours docking scheme. The newest one, 3-hours scheme won’t be applied this time, Roscosmos press-office representative stated.
“Manned launch planned for October is provides for a 6-hours (4-orbit) docking scheme with the space station, – reported the source. – ISS flight ballistic conditions (orbit parameters, date and time of the launch) do not allow for the ultrafast 3-hours docking scheme”, – he added.
Earlier it was reported that the launch of Soyuz MS-17 manned vehicle by Soyuz-2.1a booster is planned for October 14. The crew comprises Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and American lady-astronaut Kathleen Rubins.
From 2013 manned Soyuz spacecraft started docking with the ISS according to the fast 6-hours docking scheme instead of traditional 2-days one. In 2018-2020 3-hours docking scheme has been successfully tested during several Progress cargo vehicle launches.
