RSC Energia held a session of the Council of Chief Designers for the Russian Segment (RS) of the International Space Station (ISS).

After opening remarks by General Designer of RSC Energia Yevgeni MIKRIN, The Council of Chief Designers reviewed the launch readiness of the new-series manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-03 and launch vehicle Soyuz-FG; the readiness of the ISS, launch and range facilities, equipment and personnel of LOCT and MCC; search and rescue vehicles; crew medical support; the crews of Expeditions for the upcoming work.

General Designer of RSC Energia for manned space systems Sergei Romanov reported on the steps taken to implement the program of the ISS space transportation support, on the readiness of Soyuz MS for completion of its mission, on the progress of preparations for the launch of the manned transportation spacecraft Soyuz MS-03, and presented the mission plan of the ISS Russian Segment for the upcoming period.

RSC Energia First Deputy General Designer Vladimir Soloviev presented the results of the ISS mission, told about the results of scientific experiments and further work plans. He pointed out that the status of the onboard systems and resources available on the Russian Segment of the ISS, the ground control assets and mission control personnel are ready for the launch of Soyuz MS-03 on November 17, 2016 and the start of the next expedition. The mission includes a program of flight tests of Soyuz MS-03.

Reports on the readiness of all the systems of the spacecraft and the station were made by chief designers, responsible representatives of RSC Energia and organizations involved in the ISS program.

Reviewed was the readiness of launch vehicle Soyuz-FG for the launch of spacecraft Soyuz MS-03; the readiness of the launch complex and ground infrastructure for the upcoming work with spacecraft Soyuz MS-03. A conclusion was reached that MCC-M assets and personnel were ready for the launch of spacecraft Soyuz MS-03; a report was made on the readiness of the search and rescue assets. A representative of the Institute for Bio-Medical Problems (IBMP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported on the health status of the crews that are currently working onboard the ISS and those that are undergoing training for their mission. A representative of the Cosmonaut Training Center confirmed that crewmembers are ready for the program of upcoming activities onboard the ISS.

The lead institute TsNIIMash issued a decision on the technical readiness of the space transportation system Soyuz-FG/Soyuz MS-03 for work under the ISS mission plan.

Based on the results of the session, the Council of Chief Designers approved the RSC Energia proposals on the return of the crew of three onboard Soyuz MS on October 30, 2016, on the upcoming activities plan to prepare Soyuz MS-03 for launch on November 17, 2016 and on the delivery to the ISS of an expedition crew of three; on providing authorization to the ISS RS to proceed with the program of the next phase in the ISS operations. The main crew of ISS-50/51 consists of a Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.

Returning from orbit onboard Soyuz MS on October 30 are a Roscosmos cosmonaut Anatoli Ivanishin, a JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and a NASA astronaut Kathleen Rubins. Also returning to Earth onboard this spacecraft will be results of scientific experiments.

Taking part in the proceedings were representatives of State Corporation Roscosmos, URSC, space agencies from abroad, Federal Biomedical Agency of Russia, Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), companies in the rocket and space industry and some other organizations participating in the ISS program.