Soyuz-2-1a

Soyuz MS-16 rollout

Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft is transported out to Site 31/6. Photo Credit: NASA

Soyuz MS-16 rollout

Soyuz MS-16 erection

Soyuz MS-16 erection

Rocket transported to the launch pad

Soyuz MS-16 launch

Description:

• The Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft arrived at Baikonur for processing last November and earlier this year the crew′s Soyuz-2.1a booster was delivered to begin inspections and pre-flight testing. Although the Soyuz-2 has a long and chequered history as an unmanned launcher—with around a hundred successful flights to its credit and a 97.7-percent success rate since October 2006—today′s mission was the first time it had launched humans. Equipped with improved flight control and telemetry systems compared to the earlier Soyuz-FG booster, the 2.1a also saw service to launch the uncrewed Soyuz MS-14 to the space station in August of last year.
• On April 6, 2020 the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Soyuz MS-16 crewed spacecraft was transported from the assembly and testing facility to the launch complex of the pad No.31/6. This particular launch complex has seen scant use in Soviet and Russian spaceflight history and today′s liftoff was only the second flight from Site 31/6 since Soyuz MS-02 in October 2016.
• The day one works have begun with the rocket and space industry specialists performing final technological operations. Preflight tests of systems and equipment of the Soyuz-2.1a space rocket are carried out with interaction between the onboard and ground-based equipment being tested as well.