The Russian Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft with an international crew has been launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The launch took place at 15:36 Moscow time, and the flight is currently proceeding normally and successfully.
It was originally scheduled for March 21, but a few minutes before the launch from Baikonur, the spacecraft launch procedure was automatically interrupted live in front of thousands of viewers.
Later, the head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, stated that an "abnormal situation" occurred during the final stage of pre-launch preparation. Its "cause was a voltage drop in the chemical current source." The start was postponed to the backup date.
The spacecraft with Oleg Novitsky, Marina Vasilevskaya, and Tracy Dyson will reach the ISS using a two-day rendezvous scheme. The docking of the manned spacecraft is scheduled for March 25 at 18:10 Moscow time. The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket helps the manned spacecraft reach orbit.
It is known that the Soyuz MS-25 will have an orbital mission lasting 184 days. However, almost the entire crew should return to Earth on April 6.
The military is also monitoring the safety of the launch and landing of the Soyuz MS spacecraft on board. Representatives of the medical service of the Central Military District of the Ministry of Defense of Russia and the search and rescue group of the aviation association of the Aerospace Forces of Russia are participating in the preparation of launches and landings.
Their goal is to first ensure the safe launch of Soyuz MS-25. This is followed by regrouping and changing tasks: ensuring the safe landing of Soyuz MS-24 in twelve days with Novitsky, Vasilevskaya, and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara on board.