Video: Soyuz-2 rocket assembled with Progress MS-15 ship
The State Corporation Roscosmos reported that on July 18, in the assembly and test building of platform No. 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the joint calculation of specialists from its enterprises completed the general assembly of the Soyuz-2.1a space rocket, which will bring the Progress MS-15 transport cargo ship to near-earth orbit “.
During these works, the spacecraft was docked, including the spacecraft under the fairing, with the third stage of the carrier. This assembly was then docked to the “package” of the first and second stages. After completion of the mechanical assembly process, electrical connections were made and the assembled system passed the tests successfully.
Today at 15:00 Moscow time, at site No. 254, a meeting of the State Commission was held on the readiness of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle to be taken to the launch site of site No. 31 of the cosmodrome and preparations for the upcoming launch. According to the plans, the rocket will be exported next Monday morning.
The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-15 transport cargo vehicle is scheduled two days later – on July 23 at 17:26 Moscow time. The flight to the International Space Station will take place according to the so-called “superfast” two-turn scheme, and the docking to the Pirs module of the Russian segment is scheduled for 20:47 with a spread of ± 3 minutes. The cargo ship will deliver supplies of fuel, water, and other cargoes necessary for the further operation of the station in a manned mode.
Previously, the ship was tested in an anechoic chamber – a special room covered with radio-absorbing material to simulate the conditions of outer space. And after that, pneumatic vacuum tests were carried out using a helium-air environment (the most objective method for monitoring the tightness of the compartments and onboard systems of the ship in terrestrial conditions). Then, the specialists of the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and the Yuzhny Space Center carried out a planned operation to test solar panels. By the way, in preparation for the arrival of the Progress MS-15 spacecraft, the ISS orbit has already been reduced.
