a month ago, according to information from the Russian space Agency, he was reactivated and started to prepare to send: “According to the program supply the International space station at the Baikonur cosmodrome on June 10 started the preparation of cargo transport ship “Progress MS-15″ for the upcoming launch.”
At that time, it meant that in the Assembly and testing facility at the site No. 254 of the Baikonur cosmodrome specialists of RSC Energia reactivated previously made space ship, prepared it for electrical testing, conducted a survey of solar panels, tested chain cutters that at the right moment, the team needs to separate the spacecraft from the last stage of the carrier rocket “Soyuz-2.1 a”, bring it to orbit.
date of the upcoming start at the time of reactivating the ship was called. Later in a press-service of Roscosmos reported that “in June, space launches civilian contracts is not planned”. Unofficial sources close to RSC “Energia”, called in dealing with “the Russian newspaper” the possible launch date of July 5th. But before it became aware of the need to adjust the actual orbit of the ISS to avoid the danger of collision, station with space debris – fragments of the running and already defective machine.
an Unscheduled correction carried out on 3 July. In the result the orbit of the International space station was raised to 900 meters through short activation of the propulsion system attached to the Russian module of the cargo ship “Progress MS-13”. A July 8 already own this truck, has performed his mission, was planned undocked from the ISS and the design scheme is de-orbited. As reported, not burnt in the dense layers of the atmosphere of large fragments fell into the Pacific ocean in a guaranteed safe distance from the populated coasts.
Docking station for “Progress MS-15” from July 8 was free, but now, according to calculations of experts of mission control Center TsNIIMash, had to perform the planned correction of the orbit of the ISS – that it was “working” for the reception of the next space truck. And this, the third since the beginning of July maneuver in orbit yesterday, successfully completed.
As the message of Roscosmos, 11 Jul 2020 “is executed correction of the orbit of the International space station. Engines ship “Progress MS-14″, docked to the ISS, was enabled at 22:15 Moscow time and worked for 262 seconds. As a result of the maneuver, the average height of the orbit of the station has decreased by 900 meters.”
Recall that now aboard the ISS are Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and John Wagner, as well as American astronaut Christopher Cassidy, Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken. Change them, if all goes according to plan, should start from Baikonur manned spacecraft “Soyuz MS-17” 14 OKBolsheviks.
But above in orbit waiting for cargo “Progress MS-15”. It needs to deliver to the crew of the 63rd expedition stocks of fuel, water and gases, as well as livelihoods and stacking for space experiments. As expected, this flight is sent and the instrument AQM-1 definition of air quality – replace the failed one, similar to the us unit, which is used to search for the source of toxic benzene in the atmosphere of the ISS. Such a device at the station just one, to fix it by the crew it is impossible, therefore, decided to send a new one.
the Question of when this will happen is still open. Even though “Interfax” and RIA Novosti reported that the launch of the “Progress MS-15” carrier rocket “Soyuz-2.1 a” from Baikonur cosmodrome is planned on July 23 in 17.26 MSK, and its docking with the station on the same evening, at 20.47 GMT.
Named date in the Russian space Agency do not deny, but do not sound as a confirmation again. Apparently, from the same concerns, resulting in 40-thousand Baikonur on July 10, again suspended the work of hairdressers and beauty salons, cinemas, sports facilities, fitness clubs and other facilities that provide similar services, limited to the work of car wash, delivery of ready dishes, stricter measures on public transport, and extended the ban on holding mass events. June 27, the city renewed “home isolation for all residents regardless of age”.
On July 9, the city had recorded 449 cases of coronavirus, 154 people are on treatment in infectious hospital. To assist two weeks ago at the Baikonur cosmodrome sent a special plane of the Federal medical-biological Agency with the expertise and equipment. And on July 10 came the combined medical team of the Agency headed by the Deputy head of the Agency Vladimir Romanov. The key objects of the cosmodrome regular disinfection in public buildings, in plant rooms and control rooms launch complexes, handled the transport service that takes workers from the city to the spaceport and back.
According to the FMBA and the Russian space Agency, cases of the disease among employees of the Baikonur cosmodrome on this day is not registered.
