Flies to Earth ISS crew closed the hatches of the spacecraft “Soyuz” – RIA Novosti

Korolev (Moscow Region), June 11 – RIA Novosti. to return to Earth Anton Shkaplerov (Roscosmos), Samantha Kristoforetti (ESA) and Terry Verts (NASA) closed the hatches spacecraft “Soyuz TMA 15M “and prepare for undocking, told RIA Novosti spokesman for the Mission Control Center (MCC).

” Undocking “Union” of the ISS scheduled at 13.20 MSK. It is planned that in 15.51 MSK engines will be included on the brake, and 16.43 in the landing capsule to the ISS space travelers landed in a predetermined area of ​​the Kazakh steppe “, – said the source.

Fly” Union “could be delayed because of the emergency situation on the ISS, which took place on June 9 at 18.32 MSK during routine testing of the radio rendezvous and docking “course.” Engines docked to the station, the ship suddenly have started for a few seconds, resulting in a slight change in the orbital position of the ISS.

Later, we have taken the necessary measures to stabilize the ISS relative to the Earth. The cause of the incident has not yet officially announced, but according to sources in the space industry, to an unexpected start of the engine could cause software failure or human factor during testing of the system “Kurs”. Company name, contingency work that could lead to the incident is expected to be announced on June 11.

The return to Earth of the crew had also previously been postponed for a month in connection with the investigation of the accident that occurred with the cargo ship “Progress M -28M. ” ISS crew will continue to work as part of Gennady Padalka, Michael Kornienko (Roscosmos) and Scott Kelly (NASA).