It is possible that next year the first expedition in its history, consisting exclusively of Russian cosmonauts, will go to the International Space Station (ISS). This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing a source in the rocket and space industry.
It is assumed that three Russians will fly into orbit next spring on the Soyuz MS-18 manned spacecraft. The launch of this device using the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle is tentatively scheduled for April 10, 2021.
βIt is proposed to include three Russian cosmonauts in the Soyuz MS-18 crew: Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Andrey Borisenko,β informed persons said.
The need to send three Russian cosmonauts to the ISS at once is dictated by the planned commissioning of the Nauka multifunctional laboratory module. This block-long-term construction should be put into orbit in April next year. The inclusion of "Nauka" in the ISS will require a large amount of all kinds of work, some of which will be carried out in open space.
Recall that the module "Science" is already to the Baikonur Cosmodrome for final preparations for launch. After commissioning into the ISS, this block will provide new opportunities for conducting research experiments and will reduce the number of costly spacewalks. "Nauka" will provide the station with oxygen, regenerate water from urine and control the orientation of the orbital complex along the roll channel.
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Source: 3dnews.ru