Roscosmos’ general manager, Yuri Borisov, stated that the organization has re-established complete control over the entire sequence of operations involved in building and supporting the Progress MS spacecraft after a depressurization incident occurred within the thermal management subsystem aboard a craft docked at the International Space Station. The emphasis was on confirming every step of the manufacturing and life-support chain to ensure there are no overlooked vulnerabilities that could compromise future missions after this unexpected event.
He added that officials are conducting a thorough re-evaluation of the ship’s entire technological process, with a particular focus on the thermal control system. This meticulous review aims to verify the reliability of cooling circuits, fluid lines, sensors, and control algorithms that maintain the spacecraft’s internal environment under the demanding conditions of space. The goal is to rule out any design, manufacturing, or operational gaps and to reinforce confidence in the ship’s performance under both nominal and emergency scenarios.
According to Borisov, the ISS crew’s safety remained uncompromised throughout the incident. He noted that the emergency commission had ample time to investigate root causes and to draft corrective actions before proceeding with any further operations associated with Progress MS-21 or related ISS activities. This measured approach reflects the agency’s commitment to transparency, safety, and accountability in assessing in-orbit anomalies and communicating findings to the international partners onboard the station.
Earlier, Sergei Krikalev, Roscosmos’ executive director for human spaceflight programs, indicated that the government agency would analyze the depressurization event affecting the Progress MS-21 cargo spacecraft as part of its official inquiry. The analysis will consider design integrity, manufacturing tolerances, and potential operational stressors that could lead to a similar issue in future flights. Such investigations often involve multiple Roscosmos divisions, as well as collaborating space agencies, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of what occurred and how to prevent recurrence.
On February 11, Roscosmos announced that Progress MS-21, a vehicle scheduled to complete its mission near the ISS around February 18, encountered unpressurized conditions. The statement affirmed that the crew aboard the space station remained safe during the event. Following this, the unpressurized spacecraft would be commanded to depart from its orbit and eventually descend to the ocean for a controlled disposal on February 18, with the mission design prioritizing crew safety, system redundancy, and controlled deorbit procedures to minimize risk to Earth and the ISS program as a whole (attribution: Roscosmos press communications).