Russian Soyuz docks with ISS on 2nd attempt

Roscosmos – the Russian space agency – launched its Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft on August 22, 2019, to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was initially scheduled to dock at the station’s space-facing Poisk module on August 24, 2019. However, the spacecraft was commanded to back away when a malfunction of equipment on the ISS prevented it from locking on to the module. The spacecraft successfully carried out a second docking attempt on August 26. The Soyuz carries 1,450 pounds (658 kg) of cargo containing food and medical supplies, and equipment to aid scientific experiments. Plus it carries Skybot F-850 – a humanoid robot – that will be tested for its functional capabilities in microgravity. The ISS took to Twitter to confirm Soyuz MS-14’s arrival:

The Soyuz MS-14 is home at the Zvezda module! Contact and capture confirmed at 11:08 pm ET. https://t.co/cBNqC5JGaz pic.twitter.com/vc04xod0sm

— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) August 27, 2019

The spacecraft with its robot cargo is currently at the station’s Zvezda module; Zvezda is Russian for star.

Watch Skybot being trained to imitate humans.

Follow Skybot on Twitter (in Russian).

Soyuz MS-14’s successful launch

The unmanned spacecraft lifted off without any hitches onboard the Soyuz 2.1a rocket booster from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. In addition to testing the humanoid robot Skybot, the mission also aims to assess the spacecraft’s new motion control and navigation systems. The spacecraft’s compatibility with the 2.1a rocket will also be studied since Roscosmos aims to use the rocket to launch Russian crews beginning in spring 2020.

Watch the replay of Soyuz MS-14’s launch here

After two smooth days into its journey, only when the spacecraft was within about 300 feet (100 meters) of its original target – the ISS’ Poisk module – on August 24 was the fault in the station’s telemetry detected. To ensure the safety to the crew aboard the ISS, the docking of Soyuz MS-14 was called off and the spacecraft moved a safe distance away.

The unpiloted Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft has safely backed away from the space station after its approach was aborted at 1:36am ET. https://t.co/2igm0cn1Dr pic.twitter.com/FRWusLQNhk

— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) August 24, 2019

In order to attempt docking a second time, the Russian cosmonauts manually detached the Soyuz MS-13 from the Zvezda module on August 26, 2019. This 25-minute long relocation of Soyuz MS-13 from the Zvezda module to the Poisk module opened up Zvezda for Soyuz MS-14, where it is currently latched on.

Bottom line: Russia’s Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft has docked safely at the station’s Zvezda module. It carries supplies for the crew and a humanoid robot.

Via Roscosmos

Via NASA