On March 21, 2018 at 20:44 MT launch vehicle Soyuz-FG and manned spacecraft Soyuz МS-08 with the crew of long-duration expeditions ISS-45/46 successfully lifted off from Gagarin’s Launch Pad of Baikonur space center.

The spacecraft was successfully put into low Earth orbit and is headed for the International Space Station (ISS). The crew consists of spacecraft’s commander Oleg Artemyev (Russia), commander of ISS-56 Andrew Feustel (USA) and onboard engineer Richard Arnold (USA).

According to telemetry data, the spacecraft insertion into low-Earth orbit and separation from the third stage of the launch vehicle occurred on schedule. Deployment of all antennas and solar array panels was detected immediately after the separation. The systems and assemblies of the upgraded spacecraft operate normally. The crew reports a good health status.

Spacecraft Soyuz MS-08 will approach the ISS using a long two-days rendezvous capability. A fully automatic docking with the Mini Research Module (MRM2) Poisk is scheduled for March 23 at 22:41 MT.