The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft, scheduled to depart for the ISS on February 24, is planned to stay in orbit for 215 days. That means the crew’s total time at the space station will reach at least 370 days. The organizing body noted that this sets a new record for the ISS, as reported by RIA News
Previously, the Soyuz MS-22 mission launched on September 21 of the previous year from Baikonur using the Soyuz-2.1a rocket. It initially carried a 188-day plan for the ISS stay to be completed by late March 2023. However, on December 15, 2022, after the vehicle’s thermal control system experienced depressurization, mission control determined that returning the crew to Earth would be unsafe. In response, a fresh unmanned flight plan for Soyuz MS-23 was prepared, with the crew of the affected vehicle authorized to return to it: cosmonauts Sergei Prokopiev and Dmitry Petelin, along with astronaut Frank Rubio.
With these arrangements, Prokopiev, Petelin, and Rubio are expected to reach a cumulative 370 days in space, potentially extending to 371 days depending on mission timing and orbital conditions.
In related developments, Roscosmos gave the approval to extend the operational life of the Russian segment of the International Space Station through 2028, reinforcing an ongoing commitment to long-term crewed presence in low Earth orbit.
Additionally, Roscosmos reported damage to the Progress MS-21 cargo spacecraft. The vehicle’s thermal management system ceased functioning after a suspected external impact. The depressurization issue was detected on February 11, which led to adjustments in scheduling and delayed the planned unmanned Soyuz MS-23 launch from Earth. The original plan had a February 20 return window for the ISS crew, a window that was subsequently altered to address the spacecraft’s condition and safety considerations.
Observers note that the evolving sequence of events underscores the resilience and adaptability of mission planning for crewed spaceflight. Each shift in the timetable reflects a priority on crew safety, vehicle reliability, and the continuous presence of humans aboard the ISS, a cornerstone of international collaboration in space exploration. Details about the exact mission timelines, system checks, and contingency procedures are coordinated through Roscosmos in coordination with international partners and spaceflight agencies involved in the station program, and are shared publicly through official channels and press briefings.