The capsule had 200 kilograms of cargo on board – but not, as planned, three of the astronauts who now have to spend more time on the ISS space station.
Russia’s Soyuz space capsule, damaged after a meteorite impact, returned to Earth from the ISS space station on Tuesday as planned, without a crew. After a perfect flight, the Soyuz MS-22 with more than 200 kilograms of cargo on board landed in the steppes of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. The Russian space agency Roskosmos broadcast the maneuver live over the Internet.
Less than two hours after undocking from the ISS, the capsule landed about 147 kilometers southeast of the city of Scheskasgan. Although there are no cosmonauts and astronauts on board, there are scientific devices and research results – including a battery for a spacesuit, experiments on growing mushroom cultures and producing probiotic drinks.
Because of the sensitive load, the capsule had to be brought to the ground with care. Roskosmos showed how a parachute initially opened under a cloudless sky to slow the capsule’s descent. Just before hitting the ground, the speed control engines were engaged. On impact, a cloud could be seen through the released soil particles. A helicopter was also used for the rescue. The capsule must now be examined.
Leak discovered and astronauts will have to stay longer on the ISS
A leak was discovered a few months ago in the Soyuz capsule – according to Russian sources, it was probably caused by a micrometeorite. It also delayed the return of the two Russians Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin and the American Frank Rubio, who arrived at the space station in September with the MS-22. They are now expected to fly back on September 27th with the replacement spacecraft MS-23, which has since arrived.
Even before its return, humanity’s outpost at about 400 kilometers in altitude will be reinforced by three new astronauts. According to Roscosmos, the flight of the Soyuz MS-24 space capsule with cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolay Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara is already scheduled for September 15th.
(APA/dpa)