The mission of the crew of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft will be extended for several months

The mission of the crew of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft will most likely be extended for several months, Sergei Krikalev, executive director of Roscosmos for manned space programs, told reporters.

“Since the arrival of a new ship is planned, the next replacement of crews is expected in six months, we will probably extend the period of work of the 68th expedition on board the station for several more months,” leads his words “Interfax”.

At the same time, the head of the ISS program at NASA, Joel Montalbano, emphasized that one of the Soyuz crew members can transfer to the American Crew Dragon if an emergency situation arises before the Soyuz MS-23 arrives at the ISS.

Earlier today at Roskosmos toldthat the cause of the damage to the Soyuz MS-22 was a meteorite impact, and not a technical malfunction that occurred during the production of the ship. The Soyuz MS-23 rescue ship will be sent to the ISS in an unmanned mode on February 20, and the Soyuz MS-22 will be lowered to Earth without a crew, they stressed. He will remain on the ISS and return on this ship at the end of the expedition.

December 15 Roscosmos informed about damage to the skin of the spacecraft, due to which the pressure in the cooling system dropped on the Soyuz MS-22. Later, the state corporation noted that the damage could have been caused by a micrometeorite entering the radiator. At Roskosmos emphasizedthat the temperature on the ship is within normal limits and is not critical, as indicated by the crew members themselves. Their lives are not in danger, the company said.