On the Baikonur cosmodrome undergo the final pre-2.1a launch vehicle and the “Progress MS-18” transport freight ship. In accordance with the decision of the State Commission on October 25, 2021, the space appointment missile Soyuz-2.1A / Progress of MS-18 was taken to the starting line of the site No. 31.
Transportation of the rocket from the installation and test case began at 05:30 Moscow time. After conducting verticalization and information of service farms at the starting range of the site No. 31, specialists of the subsidiaries of the State Corporation “Roskosmos” have begun work on the schedule of the first starting day. After docking communications, the rocket with terrestrial equipment will have to perform autonomous tests of systems and cargo ship units, carrier missiles and starting complex, then the final operations on the “zero” and the report on the results of the first start day.
New “Space truck”, the launch and docking of which are scheduled for October 28 and 30, respectively, will be delivered on board the international space station 470 kg of fuel refueling, 420 liters of drinking water in the pots of the Spring system, 40 kg of air and oxygen in cylinders , as well as 1,509 kg of equipment and materials in the cargo compartment, including resource equipment and maintenance means of onboard systems, laying for cosmic experiments, medical control and sanitary and sanitary support, clothing items, standard diet and fresh food.
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Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket is a three-stage medium-class rocket, which is a modified version (stage of upgrading – 1a) of the Value-U carrier rocket. Designed to ensure the launches of military, national and social spacecraft.
The carrier rocket was developed and manufactured in the Progress Rocket and Space Center (Samara, is part of the state corporation “Roscosmos”). It is equipped with a new digital control system, one for all three steps, as well as a new digital radiotelemetric measurement system. Installation on the “Soyuz-2” Digital Control System increased the accuracy of the removal, stability and controllability of the carrier missile, allowed the use of large-sized fairies.