The Belarussian Cosmonaut Mission: Soyuz MS-22 Radiator Damage and Flight Timing

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The Belarussian Cosmonaut Mission: Update on Soyuz MS-22, Radiator Damage, and Flight Timing

A planned fall 2023 mission featuring a female cosmonaut from Belarus may face delays because of ongoing issues with the Soyuz MS-22 manned spacecraft. The radiator on the spacecraft sustained damage in December of the previous year, raising questions about the readiness of the vehicle for crewed flight. The latest information comes from Roscosmos and was reported by TASS. The situation has prompted careful reassessment of the mission timeline and technical readiness before proceeding with human flight operations on the Soyuz MS platform. Source: TASS, Roscosmos.

The overall launch plan for the first Belarussian cosmonaut aboard the Russian Soyuz MS system remains under review, with officials noting that the schedule could shift but will be confirmed in due course. Roskosmos has indicated that the exact flight dates will be announced closer to the readiness milestone, ensuring safety and mission success take priority over timing. Source: Roskosmos.

In related developments, Joel Montalbano, who directs NASA’s ISS program in the United States, reaffirmed NASA’s alignment with Roscosmos on the root causes of the Soyuz MS-22 incident. He added that NASA will adjust its own long-term ISS flight plan to reflect the findings from the investigation and any operational implications for future crew rotations. Source: NASA, Roscosmos.

Yuri Borisov, the former head of Roscosmos, commented on the investigation results, noting that the theory of damage from a meteor strike was not confirmed. He also mentioned that the damaged Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft is expected to return to Earth unmanned, should it complete its mission without crew. These statements underscore ongoing coordination between international space agencies as they analyze the incident and its impact on future missions. Source: Roscosmos, public remarks by Yuri Borisov.

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