A Soyuz Spacecraft Launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome

A Record-Breaking 2,500 Tourists Watch the Launch

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying an American and two Russians on Tuesday launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to head to the International Space Station. The MS-27 craft, which was decorated to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, took off at 10.47am (0547 GMT), according to televised images shown by the Russian Roscosmos space agency.

The Crew and Mission Objectives

Onboard were Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, as well as Nasa astronaut Jonny Kim. They are due to carry out 50 scientific experiments in space, Roscosmos said, before returning to earth on Dec 9.

The Launch and Orbital Journey

The spacecraft entered orbit a few minutes after launch and is due to dock in the Russian segment of the ISS at 0904 GMT.

Russia’s Space Programme and Cooperation with the US

Russia has been renting the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan since the fall of the Soviet Union more than 43 years ago. Moscow pays Almaty US$115 million a year and has a contract until 2050. Space is one of the few remaining areas of cooperation between Russia and the US, whose relationship deteriorated significantly after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in Feb 2022. However, the return to the White House of US President Donald Trump has sparked a thawing of tensions. As part of the slew of sanctions imposed on Russia since its invasion, western countries ceased partnerships with Roscosmos, but the Soyuz craft remain one of the few outlets to reach the ISS.

Russia’s Space Programme Challenges

Russia’s space programme, which for decades has been a source of great pride for the country, has been suffering for years from a chronic lack of funding, corruption scandals and failures such as the Luna-25 lunar probe in Aug 2023.

Conclusion

The successful launch of the Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome marks a significant milestone in Russia’s space programme, despite the challenges it faces. The cooperation between Russia and the US in the field of space exploration is a positive sign of the improvement in their relationship.

FAQs

Q: Who is on board the Soyuz spacecraft?
A: The spacecraft is carrying Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, as well as Nasa astronaut Jonny Kim.

Q: What is the mission objective of the Soyuz spacecraft?
A: The mission objective is to carry out 50 scientific experiments in space and return to earth on Dec 9.

Q: How many tourists watched the launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome?
A: A record of around 2,500 tourists watched the launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Q: How long has Russia been renting the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan?
A: Russia has been renting the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan since the fall of the Soviet Union more than 43 years ago.