In the installation and test case of the site No. 254 of the Baikonur cosmodrome, the preparation of the transport piloted ship “Union MS-20” began to the final stage of tests on the technical complex.
Last week, in accordance with the schedule, the division of the Soyuz MS-20 ship was held, which arrived at the cosmodrome at the beginning of the current month. After installing the ship to the workplace, the specialists of the Rocket and Space Corporation “Energy” named after S.P. Queen (part of the Roskosmos State Corporation) conducted an external inspection of the product and control of the original state of the on-board systems, connected terrestrial test equipment, completed the assembly of the test diagrams and checking on the service equipment, and also completed autonomous tests and installation of the Kazbek crew seats.
Work plan for the near future provides for the preparation of a ship to complex electrical tests, testing on-board automation and checking the tightness of the thermal regime system circuits.
Start of the Soyuz-2.1A carrier launch vehicle with a piloted ship “Union MS-20” is scheduled for December 2021. Flight to the International Space Station with a duration of 12 days will be held under a contract with Space Adventures. The commander of the main crew is the cosmonaut of Roscosmos Alexander Misurnkin, and Yusaka Maesava, President of the Start Tui Corporation, and Jozoa Hirano, were appointed as participants in the cosmic flight to the main crew, and Josezava’s personal assistant Yusaku.