On the Baikonur cosmodrome, testing tests of the MS-17 transport cargo ship were completed in a vacuum chamber of the installation and test case No. 254.
In accordance with the schedule of work, the specialists of the Rocket and Space Corporation “Energy” named after S.P. Queen and Space Center “South” (branch of the center of exploitation of land-based space infrastructure facilities, both enterprises are included in the Roskosmos State Corporation) performed a cycle of pneumatic testing of the Progress MS-17 ship, which lasts from May 30, 2021. Automated control of harsh requirements for the tightness of the compartments and side systems of the ship in the ground conditions passed without comments and allowed to proceed to further technological operations of the pre-flight preparation of the product in the dynamic stand of the installation and test case.
At the end of May, the “space truck” tests were also held in a non-echo chamber to check the functioning of the onboard equipment of the rapprochement and docking “Course-to”. The chamber itself is a specialized room coated with radio absorbing material in order to simulate the conditions of outer space for ground-based inspection of onboard radio systems of transport ships “Progress MS” and “Union MS”.
Start of the Soyuz-2.1A carrier launch vehicle with the MS-17 Progress Cargo Ship is scheduled for June 2021 from the Baikonur cosmodrome. The automatic cargo ship will deliver the crew of the 65th main expedition of fuel and gases, as well as service equipment and livelihoods on the program of the 78th Mission Mission.