Undocking and Landing
The Russian Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft has made a successful return to Earth carrying cargo but no crew. The capsule undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) and made a smooth landing on the Kazakh Steppe on March 28, 2023. However, concerns regarding a coolant leak meant that the spacecraft was deemed unfit to carry a crew back to Earth.
Cargo Load
The Soyuz MS-22 capsule carried 481 pounds of cargo, including the results of scientific experiments and a damaged spacesuit. The suit suffered a power malfunction during a spacewalk in August 2022.
Coolant Leak
The Soyuz MS-22 was deemed unsafe to carry a crew back to Earth due to a coolant leak caused by a 0.8mm hole in the outer skin. Interestingly, the cause of the coolant leak may elude detection as the damaged assembly compartment was discarded before atmospheric reentry.
Progress 82 Incident
It is important to note that this is not the first time Roscosmos has dealt with an incident involving coolant leaks. The Progress 82 freighter also experienced a coolant leak while docked to ISS in February 2023, raising doubts about spacecraft integrity. Russian engineers are now investigating any possible link between the two incidents.
Replacement and Extended Mission
The Soyuz MS23 replaced MS-22 and will serve as a lifeboat for Roscosmos cosmonauts and NASA astronaut until September 2023 due to the coolant leak. The trio’s mission on the space station was extended to last more than a year, and they will now return aboard the newly arrived Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in September.
Summary
In summary, a coolant leak meant that the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft could not carry a crew back to Earth. However, it successfully returned to Earth carrying cargo, including the results of scientific experiments and a damaged spacesuit. The cause of the coolant leak remains unknown, but Roscosmos engineers are investigating any possible links between the MS-22 incident and the earlier Progress 82 incident.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
