At the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the assembly of the «Soyuz‑2.1a» rocket with the «Soyuz MS‑28» manned spacecraft has been completed. The State Commission authorized the removal and installation of the rocket at the launch complex on November 24.
The launch is scheduled for November 27 at 12:28 Moscow time (4:28 a.m. EST), docking with the International Space Station is expected approximately 6 hours after launch.
The crew includes Russian cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, as well as American astronaut Christopher Williams. The crew will spend about eight months on the orbital station, participating in expeditions 73 and 74.
To prepare, the «Soyuz MS‑28» underwent a complete system test and verification of all onboard instruments. According to sources, the ship uses serial number 753, and changes in the crew composition occurred after the replacement of the previously planned vehicle.
The launch of «Soyuz MS‑28» will be an important mission to maintain the operation of the ISS and continue international cooperation in manned space exploration.