iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Law enforcement officials in New York make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Russia 'expected' to launch rescue ship to ISS on February 24: Official
The spacecraft aims to bring home three astronauts whose return vehicle was damaged by a meteoroid
This undated photo released by the Roscosmos State Space Corporation shows the International Space Station (ISS). — AP File
Russia's space agency said on Saturday it was planning to send a rescue ship on February 24 to bring home three astronauts whose return vehicle was damaged by a tiny meteoroid.
"The launch is expected on February 24," a spokesman for the Roscosmos space agency told AFP.
Last Monday, the space agency said it had delayed the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft, saying a supply ship docked at the International Space Station (ISS) had leaked coolant.
The Soyuz MS-22 flew Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin and Sergei Prokopyev and Nasa astronaut Frank Rubio to the ISS in September.
They were scheduled to return home in the same spacecraft but it began leaking coolant in mid-December after being hit by what US and Russian space officials believe was a tiny space rock.
In January, Russia said that it would send an empty spacecraft to the ISS in February to bring home the three astronauts.
Last Monday, the launch was postponed after another vessel — a Russian supply ship docked at the ISS, the Progress MS-21 — had also leaked coolant, sparking concern.
Earlier on Saturday, the Russian space agency said that chief designers had now recommended that the launch of the rescue ship be set for 3:34am on February 24.
The Soyuz MS-24 had been carefully examined, and no damage had been found, the space agency said in a statement.
Now a state commission has to sign off on the new date.
The Roscosmos official told AFP that the state commission was widely expected to approve the new launch date.
The Progress supply ship will be de-orbited on February 19, the space agency said in a separate statement.
More news from World
The epicentre of the quake reportedly had a depth of 7.2 km
As per visuals, it can be confirmed that this happened outside the consulate, but the date cannot be confirmed
Airline to reduce frequency of Boeing 777 non-stop flights to San Francisco and Newark temporarily until 100 pilots and 1,400 cabin crew in training begin flying in the next 2-3 months
Off-season strawberries in Japan come with big cost to the environment
The Russia President is expected to visit in August to attend a summit, although there is no official confirmation
China asked to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results
An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises