Roscosmos disclosed the details of the plan for the return of the crew from the ISS

The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft is due to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) in unmanned mode on February 22, informs Roskosmos. Run it for return Russian crew from the ISS on February 20.

Crew members Sergei Prokopiev, Dmitry Petelin and Francisco Rubio will return to Earth on the Soyuz MS-23 due to an emergency situation with the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft. The systems of the ISS and the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft are operating normally, but in the event of an accident, the crew will need an emergency evacuation to Earth before the Soyuz MS-23 arrives, noted at Roscosmos. If an emergency evacuation is necessary, Francisco Rubio will return to Earth on the Crew Dragon, and Roscosmos cosmonauts on the Soyuz MS-22. The descent of two cosmonauts instead of three will be safer, as it will help reduce the temperature and humidity in the Soyuz MS-22, according to Roscosmos.

It was decided to temporarily move the Francisco Rubio lodgement from the Soyuz MS-22 to the Crew Dragon spacecraft (the work will take place on January 17–18). After Soyuz MS-23 arrives at the ISS, the lodgements of all three cosmonauts, including Francisco Rubio, will be transferred to the spacecraft.

December 15 at Soyuz happened depressurization of the external circuit of the ship’s cooling system. Cause of damage could become micrometeorite impact. Then the source of “RIA Novosti” informedthat Roskosmos will need about one month to expedited shipment of the Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS to replace the damaged one.

Maria Fedotova