Baikonur’s cosmodrome continues to prepare the starting complex “East” site No. 31 to the launch of the Soyuz-2.1A carrier missile with the Progress MS-18 Transport Cargo Ship. The purpose of the flight is to board the fuel, water and other cargo stations necessary for the operation of the international space station in manned mode.
In accordance with the open schedule of works, the South Sports Center specialists (a branch of the center of exploitation of land-based space infrastructure facilities is included in the state corporation “Roskosmos”) perform checks on the operation of starting systems and equipment. At the moment, staff preparation is carried out on the service unit and on remote control systems refueling rocket fuel components.
Technological measures are implemented taking into account all the necessary sanitary and epidemiological measures to prevent and restrict the spread of a new coronavirus infection.
The launch of the Progress MS-18 cargo ship is scheduled for October 28, 2021 from the starting complex “East” of the Baikonur cosmodrome. On its board – about 1,490 kg of various equipment and materials, including resource equipment and tools for extracurricular activities, medical controls and sanitary and hygienic support, clothing items, standard diet and fresh food members for the crew of the 66th main expedition, and Also styling for cosmic experiments “Matreshka-R”, “Biomag-M”, “Aseptic”, “Structure” and “Photobioreactor”.