Soyuz MS-23 launched into space:It will replace damaged Soyuz MS-22 and return crew to Earth

The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft was launched into space today at 03:24 Moscow time (04:24 Yerevan time) by a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It is expected to replace the recently damaged Soyuz MS-22, assigned to the International Space Station (ISS).

According to Roscosmos.ru, the spacecraft was launched in normal mode, the third stage was disconnected from the spacecraft, and the processes of opening the antennas and solar panels were successfully completed.

The rocket launch was broadcast live, which you can watch below.

On 15 December there was a failure in the cooling system of the Soyuz MS-22 passenger spacecraft docked to the International Space Station. According to the agency, the cause was a "failure of the radiator" caused by a small meteorite falling. The accident called into question the safety of the return of two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut.

As a result, it was decided to land Soyuz MS-2 in March 2023, and a new Soyuz MS-23 will replace it on the International Space Station. According to Roscosmos, the ship is already flying to the International Space Station, docking with which is scheduled for February 26 at 04:01 Moscow time (05:01 Yerevan time).

It is known that the Soyuz MS-23 must deliver to the International Space Station a total of 429 kilograms of cargo for various purposes, including medical control and research equipment, as well as instruments for monitoring the station and the purity of the atmosphere, equipment for monitoring gas composition, water.

^{Damaged part of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft.}

According to available data, the spacecraft will also deliver additional equipment to the ISS, including interchangeable modules of the ISS Russian sector systems, means of landing, maintenance and repair of the station, as well as crew supplies, protection for astronauts and even laundry and food containers.

It was previously reported that the crew of the damaged Soyuz MS-22 could stay on the station until September.