Оn September 15, at Baikonur Cosmodrome RSC Energia specialists conducted the designer’s inspection of the new-modification manned transport vehicle Soyuz MS-02 and performed a set of technological operations on encapsulation of launch vehicle Soyuz-FG.

The vehicle prelaunch processing under the International Space Station (ISS) Program is under way at the spacecraft assembly & testing facilities (SC ATF) at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Per the preparatory work schedule the transportation of the payload module with Soyuz МS-02 from SC ATF to the launch vehicle integration and test facility (LV ITF) for final assembly with launch vehicle Soyuz-FG is planned for the nearest week.

The launch of manned transport vehicle Soyuz MS-02 is scheduled on September 23, at 21:17 Moscow time from Baikonur Cosmodrome site No.31. ROSKOSMOS cosmonauts Sergei RYZHIKOV and Andrei BORISENKO, as well as NASA astronaut Robert Shane KIMBROUGH are prime crewmembers. ROSKOSMOS cosmonauts Alexander MISURKIN and Nikolai TIKHONOV, and NASA astronaut Mark VANDE HEI are backup crewmembers.

The new-modification vehicle Soyuz MS was developed as a result of in-depth upgrade of Soyuz TMA. It is designed to deliver up to three crewmembers and associated cargo to the International Space Station, and also return them to the Earth. When attached to the ISS, the vehicle also serves as a crew rescue vehicle and is kept in constant readiness for urgent crew descent to the Earth.