Experts halted the planned ascent to space for cosmonauts Sergei Prokopiev and Dmitry Petelin after negotiations and assessments. Roscosmos and a specialist from the Mission Control Center confirmed the pause, which followed careful consideration of the astronauts and the evolving technical situation. The event underscores the careful checks that accompany every space mission step and the involvement of the mission leadership in deciding how to proceed when alarms or uncertainties arise.
The government agency stated that the crew’s scheduled departure from the International Space Station as part of the Russian program was cancelled for technical reasons. Officials stressed that safety and mission integrity take precedence when systems are under scrutiny and potential risks must be thoroughly evaluated before any further steps are taken in orbit.
Reports from a Mission Control Center expert indicate that the pause occurred because of depressurization in the heat supply system of the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS. The heat management loop, essential for maintaining stable temperatures aboard the spacecraft, experienced a pressure variation that required immediate assessment before any spacesuit or EVA activities could continue. The team is currently analyzing telemetry, tracing external circuit performance, and determining how far the issue could affect operations in the near term.
During the discussions with cosmonaut Anna Kikina, officials described efforts to review additional telemetry and assess the overall criticality of the fault. The conversations aimed to gauge whether the anomaly could be contained during standard procedures or if it demanded more extensive contingency steps, potentially altering mission timelines. The crew members remained aware of the situation as engineers and flight controllers worked to clarify the risk profile and identify any straightforward remedies or required part replacements.
Earlier plans had called for Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin to exit the ISS on November 25 to move the radiator-heat exchanger from the Rassvet module to the Nauka module, a relocation tied to the Russian segment’s upgrade work. Moments before the planned spacewalk was to begin, Roscosmos announced that the task would be paused because one of the spacesuits presented an issue that needed resolution. This last-minute pause illustrates how even minor equipment concerns can halt meticulously timed space operations and trigger a new assessment of readiness before resuming activities in the harsh environment of space.