On December 20, Borisov, general manager of Roscosmos, said that if the situation required, Russia’s “Soyuz MS-23” spacecraft could dock at the International Space Station in unmanned mode and bring back three astronauts. Earth, while the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft currently on the International Space Station will return in unmanned mode.
Russia will evaluate whether the “Soyuz MS-22” can return to Earth as originally planned before the end of the year
On December 19, the Russian National Aerospace Corporation stated that it will make an assessment before the end of December on whether the “Soyuz MS-22” manned spacecraft can carry astronauts from the International Space Station back to Earth as originally planned. At present, the Russian National Aerospace Corporation has set up two working groups to study the damage of the “Soyuz MS-22” spacecraft.
The Russian National Aerospace Corporation stated that according to the original plan, the Russian segment of the International Space Station will carry out the rotation of station personnel in March 2023. If the “Soyuz MS-22” fails to work normally, they will prepare to launch the “Soyuz MS-23” as soon as possible. To replace the Soyuz MS-22. According to Borisov, president of the Russian National Aerospace Corporation, on the 19th, the launch time of the spare spacecraft to replace the “Soyuz MS-22” will be advanced one month, and the new launch date is February 19, 2023, not the previously expected date. March.
On December 15, the shell of Russia’s “Soyuz MS-22” manned spacecraft was damaged, and the activities of astronauts leaving the cabin were temporarily canceled. Sergei Krikalev, executive director of the Russian National Aerospace Corporation’s manned spaceflight program, said that the damage to the Soyuz MS-22 may have been caused by a micrometeorite impact on the radiator.