The orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) was raised to prepare for the launch of the Soyuz MS-19 transport manned spacecraft. On board are actress Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko, they will shoot the first feature film in space under the working title "Challenge". This was reported on Saturday, August 21, by the press service of Roscosmos.
"In order to form ballistic conditions before the launch of the Soyuz MS-19 transport manned spacecraft and the landing of the Soyuz MS-18 lander, another correction of the altitude of the orbit of the International Space Station was carried out," the report says.
In addition to the director and actress, cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov is on board the Soyuz.
The engines of the Zvezda service module were turned on at 07: 04 Moscow time and worked for 50 seconds, and the pulse value was 0.71 m / s. According to the state corporation, after the maneuver, the average altitude at the moment is 420.91 km above the Earth's surface.
Specialists of the ballistic and navigation support service of the TsNIIMash Mission Control Center (part of Roscosmos) process telemetric information, the results of which will indicate the exact parameters of the ISS orbit.
The filmmakers will return to earth on October 17 together with cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky on the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft.
Initially, the correction of the ISS orbit was scheduled for August 19, but it was postponed for two days at the request of the American side. The reason was the technical unavailability of the American segment, which the Flight Director of the partners reported to the Flight Control Center near Moscow.
Roscosmos said that the orbit needs to be adjusted to form ballistic conditions before the launch and docking of the Soyuz MS-19, as well as before the undocking and landing of the Soyuz MS-18.
The last time the correction of the ISS orbit was carried out on June 24 by the engines of the Progress MS-16 cargo ship. Then the station's orbit was raised by 850 m — up to 420.3 km.
On August 8, the first ever "space Olympic Games"were held on the ISS. In the first "space Games" there were four disciplines. Seven athletes participated in the tournament. There were two teams in total.