Yesterday dawned a special day at Baikonur – the morning began with the removal and verticalization of the Soyuz-2.1a rocket with a new cargo vehicle. Soyuz-2.1a is scheduled for launch at 06:20 Moscow time on August 15

The launch of Soyuz-2.1a is scheduled for 06:20 Moscow time on August 15 – the launch vehicle will put the Progress MS-28 spacecraft into orbit. The spacecraft is to deliver 2,621 kg of cargo to the ISS, including 950 kg of top-up fuel, 420 liters of drinking water, 50 kg of compressed nitrogen in cylinders, as well as about 1,201 kg of various equipment and materials in the cargo compartment: food for the crew, items of clothing and stowage for scientific experiments.

In particular, the Progress MS-28 will carry an X-ray spectrometer, which the cosmonauts will install outside the Zvezda module during extravehicular activities. It will allow scientists to conduct a periodic review of the celestial sphere in the X-ray range.

In addition, the ship carries stows for new scientific experiments “Forceful” (evaluation of lung function during long flight) and “Endothelium” (study of the role of the Earth’s geomagnetosphere in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases).

According to Andrey Vedernikov, head of the Space Nutrition Department of the Research Institute of Food Concentrate Industry and Special Food Technology, fresh oranges, grapefruits, and onions will be sent to the station on the cargo ship. In addition, coffee with and without sugar will be delivered to the cosmonauts.