The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft, which will fly to the ISS on February 24, will remain in orbit for 215 days. Thus, the total working time of the crew at the station will be at least 370 days. The company noted that this is a new record for the ISS, writes RIA News.
Previously, the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft was launched on September 21 last year from Baikonur with the Soyuz-2.1a rocket. A 188-day voyage to the ISS was then scheduled for completion by the end of March 2023.
However, on 15 December 2022, after the ship’s temperature control system was depressurized, it was decided that it was dangerous for the crew to return to the ship. For these purposes, the next unmanned flight of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft was prepared, the crew of the malfunctioning ship will return to it: cosmonauts Sergei Prokopiev and Dmitry Petelin and astronaut Frank Rubio.
By then, Prokopiev, Petelin, and Rubio will have spent 370 days in space, perhaps extending their mission to 371 days.
Formerly NTS Roscosmos approved Extension of the service life of the Russian part of the ISS until 2028.
Also, Roscosmos reported About the damage to the Progress MS-21 spacecraft. The truck’s thermal management system stopped working after it was damaged by an external impact.
The truck’s depressurization was discovered on 11 February. For this reason, the launch of the unmanned Soyuz MS-23 from Earth was delayed. It was supposed to return the ISS crew to Earth on February 20.