Soyuz Crew Prepares to Return Home

MOSCOW (Roscosmos PR) — In accordance with the Russian flight program of the International Space Station, on October 17, 2021, it is planned to return the crew of the Yu.A. Gagarin “(Soyuz MS-18). Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky and space flight participants – director Klim Shipenko and actress Yulia Peresild will return to Earth.

Oleg Novitsky has been preparing for his return to Earth for more than two weeks. In particular, his daily routine includes four 20-minute workouts under conditions of simulated gravity in a Chibis pneumatic suit. It is an airtight “pants” that creates negative pressure around the lower body. In the final two days before the descent, the sessions of “artificial gravity” are increased to 55 minutes, while the doctors continuously measure the astronaut’s pulse rate and blood pressure.

Closing the transfer hatches between the manned spacecraft Yu.A. Gagarin “and the multipurpose laboratory module” Science “of the Russian segment of the International Space Station will take place from 00:45 to 01:05 Moscow time on October 17. According to the updated data of the Mission Control Center TsNIIMash (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation), undocking is expected at 04:14 Moscow time, the launch of the ship’s propulsion system for issuing a braking impulse at 06:41:46 Moscow time and the descent vehicle landing at 07:35:42 Moscow time 148 km southeast of the city of Zhezkazgan.

Servicemen of the Central Military District sent search and evacuation amphibious vehicles with high cross-country capability “Blue Birds” from Zhezkazgan and Karalik to ensure the landing of the descent vehicle. This is stated in a message released on Saturday by the press service of the district.

The ground group includes four Blue Bird amphibious vehicles that will deliver a brigade of military medics and equipment for the safe evacuation of astronauts to the landing site. The column includes a special crane for evacuating the descent vehicle. Two vehicles are already in the reserve landing area in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In total, more than 200 personnel, 12 Mi-8MTV5-1 helicopters, three An-12 and An-26 aircraft, about 20 units of special equipment, including five Sinyaya Ptitsa amphibious search and evacuation vehicles, are involved in ensuring the landing.