Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American blasted off for an express trip to the International Space Station on Wednesday.
The video published by Russia’s Roscosmos space agency showed the Soyuz MS-26 taking off around 7:23 pm Moscow time (1623 GMT). Onboard are Russian cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, as well as US astronaut Donald Pettit.
The Soyuz, a spacecraft of Russian origin, serves as a vital link between Earth and the space station, transporting crew members and essential supplies. It also acts as a means of returning individuals to Earth from the orbiting outpost.
Crew members from Russia are referred to as cosmonauts, while those from the United States, working under NASA, are called astronauts. Similarly, crew members hailing from Europe, Canada, and Japan also bear the title of astronauts.
The Soyuz takes cosmonauts and astronauts to and from the space station. A Soyuz has room for three people to ride in it. The spacecraft also brings food and water to the space station.
The Soyuz serves a dual purpose, acting as a transportation vehicle and a safety measure. At least one Soyuz remains docked to the space station at all times, ready to serve as an emergency escape pod should the need arise, allowing the crew to quickly evacuate and return to Earth.
The Soyuz spacecraft consists of three distinct modules, each serving a specific purpose. The Orbital Module, comparable in size to a large van, provides living quarters for the crew during their time in orbit and has the capability to connect directly to the space station.
The Descent Module, as its name suggests, is utilized by the crew during the launch phase and the return journey to Earth. It is specifically designed to withstand the rigors of reentry and ensure a safe landing.
The third module houses the spacecraft’s critical life support systems, including batteries, solar panels, and steering engines, all of which are essential for the Soyuz’s operation and the crew’s well-being.
The Soyuz capsule is propelled into space by a Soyuz rocket, with the two components separating once the spacecraft reaches orbit. While the rocket returns to Earth, the capsule continues its journey, remarkably reaching space in a mere nine minutes.
The video published by Russia’s Roscosmos space agency showed the Soyuz MS-26 taking off around 7:23 pm Moscow time (1623 GMT). Onboard are Russian cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, as well as US astronaut Donald Pettit.
The Soyuz, a spacecraft of Russian origin, serves as a vital link between Earth and the space station, transporting crew members and essential supplies. It also acts as a means of returning individuals to Earth from the orbiting outpost.
Crew members from Russia are referred to as cosmonauts, while those from the United States, working under NASA, are called astronauts. Similarly, crew members hailing from Europe, Canada, and Japan also bear the title of astronauts.
The Soyuz takes cosmonauts and astronauts to and from the space station. A Soyuz has room for three people to ride in it. The spacecraft also brings food and water to the space station.
The Soyuz serves a dual purpose, acting as a transportation vehicle and a safety measure. At least one Soyuz remains docked to the space station at all times, ready to serve as an emergency escape pod should the need arise, allowing the crew to quickly evacuate and return to Earth.
The Soyuz spacecraft consists of three distinct modules, each serving a specific purpose. The Orbital Module, comparable in size to a large van, provides living quarters for the crew during their time in orbit and has the capability to connect directly to the space station.
The Descent Module, as its name suggests, is utilized by the crew during the launch phase and the return journey to Earth. It is specifically designed to withstand the rigors of reentry and ensure a safe landing.
The third module houses the spacecraft’s critical life support systems, including batteries, solar panels, and steering engines, all of which are essential for the Soyuz’s operation and the crew’s well-being.
The Soyuz capsule is propelled into space by a Soyuz rocket, with the two components separating once the spacecraft reaches orbit. While the rocket returns to Earth, the capsule continues its journey, remarkably reaching space in a mere nine minutes.
