Union MS-02

On August 31, the Soyuz MS-02 manned spacecraft was successfully tested for leak tightness in a vacuum chamber at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan ^[5] . The launch was originally scheduled for September 23, 2016, at 6:17 UTC ^[6] .

On September 8, 2016, the main and backup crews of the Soyuz MS-02 transport manned spacecraft (TLC) arrived at the Baikonur cosmodrome. On September 9, the crews conducted the first training session in the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft (“fitting” the ship): they checked the radio communication systems performance, got acquainted with the placement of cargo, and also tried on spacesuits , checking them for tightness. September 10 at the 17th site of Baikonur, a ceremony of raising the flags of countries participating in the launch of a manned spacecraft was held ^[7] . By September 11, Soyuz MS-02 TPK was filled with fuel and compressed gases ^[8] . On September 15, the head fairing of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle ^{[9] [10] was} rolled .

On September 17, it was decided to postpone the launch date for technical reasons ^[11] . Crews returned to Moscow ^[12] . The reason for the transfer of the launch was a cable landing system, which was clamped during the test. As a result, an alarm about the malfunction of the instrumentation equipment worked. After the malfunctions were resolved, new full tests of the ship were carried out ^[13] .

September 26, TASS reported that a new launch date has been appointed - October 19, 2016 ^[14] . On October 7, the main and backup crews of Soyuz MS-02 TPK returned to the Baikonur cosmodrome ^[15] . On October 10, 2016, the manned spacecraft was re-docked with the transitional compartment ^[16] . On October 11, the head fairing was rolled up again ^[17] . On October 14, the general assembly of the Soyuz-FG space launch vehicle (RKN) with TPK Soyuz MS-02 was carried out ^[18] . On October 16, the ILV was taken to the launch pad No. 31 of the Baikonur cosmodrome and installed in the launcher ^[19] .

On October 18, the State Commission approved the main crew of the Soyuz MS-02 TPK as part of the ship’s commander Sergey Ryzhikov, and the flight engineer Andrey Borisenko and Robert Shein Kimbrough. On the same day, a press conference was held for the main and backup crews of the Soyuz MS-02 transport manned spacecraft ^[20] .

On October 19, 2016 at 11:05 Moscow time, from the site No. 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the launch vehicle Soyuz-FG was launched with the Soyuz MS-02 manned transport vehicle. At 11:14 Moscow time, Soyuz MS-02 separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle ^[21] . As an indicator of the weightlessness of the spacecraft, a prefabricated model of a manned transport vehicle of the new generation “ Federation ” was used, made by St. Petersburg rocket engineer and illustrator of rocket technology Alexander Shlyadinsky. The housing of the Federation PTK model is detachable, inside there is a cavity, into which a pinch of soil from the launch complex of the Vostochny cosmodrome is laid ^[22]

The flight of the TPC to the station took place in a 34-turn (two-day) pattern, the docking took place in automatic mode. At 12:58 Moscow time, on October 21, 2016, the spacecraft docked to the anti-aircraft docking assembly of the small research module Poisk (MIM-2) of the Russian segment of the International Space Station ^[23] . At 15:20 Moscow time, the transition hatch was opened and the crew members went aboard the ISS. The spacecraft crew worked at the station as part of expeditions ISS-49 and ISS-50 ^[24] .

On April 10, 2017, a ship with three crew members undocked from the ISS at 10:58 Moscow time ^[25] , and at 14:21 Moscow time the descent capsule of the ship made a soft landing 147 km south-east of the city of Zhezkazgan (Kazakhstan) ^[26] .

On October 16, 2017, NASA published data on the depressurization of the descent vehicle. During the opening of the main parachute with its parts (buckle), the weld was damaged, as a result of which a pressure drop inside the capsule occurred at a height of about eight kilometers. It was noted that the incident was not dangerous for the crew, as soon after the parachute opened, a valve opened, providing a message for the descent vehicle to the atmosphere ^{[27] [28]} . The press service of "Roscosmos" confirmed this information, noting that "the commission analyzed the incident - the situation is of a random, unlikely nature, all necessary measures to prevent a repetition of a similar situation in the future have been taken" ^[29] .

In the center of the emblem is Mount Favor in the Holy Land . Above the mountain is a source of light, symbolizing the sanctification of all earthly things. Three beams emerging from a light source symbolize the aspirations of the three crew members. The image of the mountain is written in a large letter “F” - the first letter of the name of the mountain. Three stars on the letter "F" also denote three crew members. In addition, the emblem is marked with the call sign of the crew - "Favor". The authors of the emblem are Sergey Ryzhikov with the participation of cosmonaut Andrey Babkin . The image of the emblem was made public on July 4, 2016 ^[30] . The emblem is sewn on the clothes of each cosmonaut of the main crew. Exactly the same emblems, but without surnames received alternates.

On the Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft, a particle of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov was delivered to the ISS ^[31] . The shrine was transferred with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia . According to the representative of the diocese - after the return of the Soyuz MS-02 ship to the earth, a particle of the relics will be transferred to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Star City for permanent residence and worship of believers ^[32] .

• Preparations for the launch and launch of the Soyuz-FG launch rocket launcher with Soyuz MS-02 . TV studio Roscosmos .