The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft will be launched to the ISS on February 20

The Soyuz MS-23 manned spacecraft, on which cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin and astronaut Frank Rubio will return to Earth, will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in the early morning of February 20. This is stated in the message of Roscosmos, distributed on Friday.

"The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with Soyuz MS-23 is on February 20 at 04:57 Moscow time," the Telegram channel of the state corporation reports.

As specified in Roscosmos, the solar panels of the ship have already been tested. The installation of special equipment and equipment in the descent vehicle and the household compartment is also being completed.

The mission of Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio was extended due to the depressurization of the external radiator circuit of the thermoregulation system of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, which occurred on December 15. After analyzing the situation, the state Commission decided to launch the damaged Soyuz in unmanned mode, and return the cosmonauts, whose mission has been extended for several months, on the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft.

Prior to the emergency situation, it was assumed that Soyuz MS-23 would fly to the ISS on March 16.