The damaged Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft initiated its descent from orbit toward Earth after completing a deorbit burn. Mission Control Center reports confirm that the vehicle is returning in unmanned mode, following established procedures for a controlled reentry. The projected landing zone lies southeast of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan, with an estimated touchdown around 14:45 Moscow time. Source: official mission briefing.
On landing, the spacecraft is expected to deliver a cargo payload weighing approximately 218 kilograms. This shipment comprises scientific data gathered from experiments conducted aboard the space station and assorted equipment designated for analysis or possible reuse. Included in the cargo is a defective battery from a Russian spacesuit, a fault once linked to a spacewalk that concluded ahead of its original timeline in mid-2022. The battery issue influenced mission planning and EVA operations at that time. Attribution: aerospace updates and mission telemetry.
Experts anticipate that the spacecraft will undergo a staged separation of its components, after which the lander will descend into denser layers of Earth’s atmosphere and complete the final phases of its journey. This sequence represents a carefully choreographed process designed to minimize risk to the spacecraft, the surrounding environment, and any nearby observers during reentry. Noted by: space safety analysts.
Earlier briefings indicated that the Soyuz MS-22 vehicle, which suffered radiator damage, was en route to Earth from the International Space Station. Cleanup and recovery efforts underscore the resilience of the hardware and the continuing reliability of the ground teams coordinating the mission from facilities such as the Mission Control Center. Space agency personnel and international collaborators continue to monitor each stage of the reentry and subsequent handling with a priority on safety and data integrity to inform future missions. Reported by: international space agencies.