A Soyuz-2.1a rocket with a Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft, which will carry a new international expedition to the International Space Station, was installed on Tuesday morning at the 31st site of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, RIA Novosti correspondent reports.
For this, the rocket was brought to the launch pad by a special train under security from the assembly and testing facility where the rocket was assembled. After the rocket was set in a vertical position, its preparation for the launch began.
The launch itself is scheduled for 10.42 Moscow time on April 9. It is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the flight to orbit of the planet's first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. In this regard, the Soyuz spacecraft was given a name - "Yuri A. Gagarin". This inscription is placed on the shell of the spacecraft, and the head cowling of the rocket is decorated with a portrait of Gagarin and the inscription: "Year of Gagarin 1961-2021".
The ship's crew includes Russians Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov, as well as American Mark Vande High.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Roskosmos
Based on materials from RIA Novosti