Xinhua News Agency, Moscow, April 9th, the Russian “Union MS-16” spacecraft was successfully launched into orbit from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan on the 9th. It will put 2 Russian astronauts and 1 American astronauts arrived at the International Space Station to carry out station missions.
According to the news released by the Russian Aerospace Group website on the 9th, the spacecraft was made of the “Union-2.1a” rocket at 11: 5 on the 9th of Moscow time (9th of Beijing time 16: 5) Fire from the Baikonur launch site. After flying for about 9 minutes, the spacecraft separated and entered a predetermined orbit. The spacecraft will follow the fast-flight docking mode and is expected to dock with the International Space Station’s “Exploration” experimental module 6 hours after launch.
This spaceship carries Russian astronauts Anatoly Ivanishin, Ivan Wagner and American astronaut Christopher Cassidy. According to plan, these three people will be stationed on the International Space Station for 196 days.
The Russian carrier rocket that launched the manned spacecraft in the previous years was the “Union-FG”, which was retired in September last year. The succeeding “Union-2.1a” rocket sent the manned spacecraft to the International Space Station for the first time. Its main feature is the use of a new digital control system.
According to the RIA Novosti report on the 9th, in order to prevent the infection of the new coronavirus, three astronauts received medical isolation observation after arriving at the Baikonur launch site earlier. In the past, astronauts visited Baikonur monuments before taking off, and offered flowers to the monument of the world ’s first astronaut Gagarin. Relatives of astronauts were not allowed to see off at the Baikonur launch site, nor were media reporters allowed to report on the launch.
(Originally titled “Russian Spacecraft with 3 Astronauts Successfully Take Off”)