The Russian Soyuz rocket launched on November 24 from southern Kazakhstan, carrying the Prichal docking module to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Soyuz rocket carries Russia’s “dock” module to the ISS
According to the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the launch took place at 8:06 PM on November 24, Hanoi time, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Prichal – meaning “docking port” in Russian – is the second long-term addition to the Russian segment of the ISS this year, following the arrival of the multifunctional laboratory module Nauka.
The new module’s journey will last two days, with an expected arrival at the ISS at 10:26 PM on November 26, Hanoi time, when it will automatically dock with the Nauka module.
Weighing 5 tons and measuring 14 cubic meters, Prichal features a total of six docking ports. With one port connected to Nauka, it can accommodate up to five spacecraft at once. In this flight, the module also carries a variety of cargo to the ISS, including scientific instruments, food, and personal items for the astronauts.
Design of the Prichal module. (Photo: Roscosmos)
The International Space Station is set to “retire” after 2024, although NASA has indicated it could remain operational until at least 2028. The Russian space agency is also planning to build its own orbital station.
Operational since 1998 with participation from Russia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency, the ISS is one of the largest international collaborative projects in the fields of science and engineering.
