Specialists of the RSC “Energia” (part of the Roskosmos State Corporation), in accordance with the pre-flight test schedule at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, continues to work with the “Soyuz MS-16” manned spacecraft.

After delivery to the cosmodrome, it remained in storage mode on the territory of the Assembly and Testing building of site № 254.

On January 28, 2020 the ship was installed in the stand of the technical complex to carry out planned operations of the initial stage of ground training.

Currently, it is undergoing autonomous tests, successfully completing a cycle of test inclusions of service equipment, diagnostics of electronic computing and radio navigation equipment, leak testing and on-board systems testing.

The launch is scheduled for April 9, 2020.

The manned spacecraft “Soyuz MS-16” will deliver the 62/63rd expedition members aboard the International Space Station.

This launch will be the first for the “Soyuz-2.1a” launch vehicle with a manned spacecraft of the “Soyuz MS” family and crew on board (the launch in unmanned mode took place on August 22, 2019).

Previously, “Soyuz-2.1a” launched only cargo ships and spacecraft into orbit.

After September 25, 2019, this rocket replaced “Soyuz-FG” in missions to deliver cosmonauts and astronauts to the ISS.

“Soyuz-2.1a” is a Russian space rocket, designed to launch various spacecraft, including ships and satellites.