SERAMBINEWS.COM, MOSCOW – Laboratory module rocket Russia which has been long overdue successfully docked with the International Space Station on Thursday (29/7/2021).
Just eight days after launching from the space launch facility Russia di Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
The 20-metric-ton (22-ton) Nauka Module, also called the Multipurpose Laboratory Module, docks with the orbiting outpost in automatic mode after a long journey and a series of maneuvers.
According to the AP, the space agency Russia, Roscosmos, confirmed the module’s contact with the International Space Station at 13:29 GMT.
The launch of Nauka, which was meant to provide more room for scientific experiments and space for the crew, has been repeatedly delayed due to technical issues. It was originally scheduled to go up in 2007.
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In 2013, experts discovered contamination in its fuel system, which resulted in long and expensive replacements. Other Nauka systems are also undergoing modernization or overhaul.
Nauka becomes the first new module in the station segment Russia since 2010.
On Monday (26/7/2021), one of the modules Russia the older, Pirs spacewalking compartment, was removed from the Space Station to free up space for the new module.
You Russia at the station have made two space trips to connect the cables in preparation for Nauka’s arrival.
Once docked, Nauka will require multiple maneuvers, including up to 11 spacewalks beginning in early September, to prepare it for service.
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The International Space Station is currently operated by NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur; Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov of the space company Roscosmos Russia.
Japanese Space Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
In 1998, Russia launched the station’s first module, Zarya, which was followed in 2000 by another large module, the Zvezda, and three smaller modules in the following years.
The last of them, Rassvet, arrived at the station in 2010.
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xlHW7XZ1-k
