Russia to Bring Soyuz Spacecraft Back to Earth Following Coolant Leak
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft approaches the International Space Station delivering a crew of three for an eight-day stay in 2001.
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Russia plans to bring its Soyuz spacecraft back to Earth without its original crew after the vehicle sprang a coolant leak while docked with the International Space Station.
Roscosmos, the state space corporation, also plans to expedite the launch of its next Soyuz to the ISS without a crew to serve as a replacement vehicle to get the astronauts home, according to a Telegram post Wednesday. That launch is now planned for Feb. 20. The three astronauts — two Russians and one American — who flew to space on the original Soyuz will have to stay on the station longer than originally planned.