A Russian Soyuz spacecraft, carrying a Russian cosmonaut, a Belarusian astronaut, and an American astronaut, successfully launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Saturday, as shown in live footage.
The launch, originally planned for Thursday, was aborted just seconds before takeoff due to a problem with a chemical power source. However, the issue was resolved, and the Soyuz spacecraft was able to launch on Saturday without any further complications.
The crew onboard the Soyuz consists of Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, Belarusian astronaut Marina Vasilevskaya, and American astronaut Tracy Dyson. They are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) at 1510 GMT on Monday.
Despite the strained relations between the United States and Russia due to the war in Ukraine, space exploration remains one of the few areas where the two countries continue to collaborate. The successful launch of the Soyuz spacecraft underscores this ongoing cooperation in space exploration.
Upon reaching the ISS, Novitsky and Vasilevskaya will join the current crew, including U.S. astronaut Loral O’Hara, who is already aboard the orbital station. The return journey for Novitsky, Vasilevskaya, and O’Hara is scheduled for April 6, marking the completion of their mission aboard the ISS.
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