Russia has a pretty impressive background regarding space exploration and wants to keep up the good work. The country has scheduled the launch of two cosmonauts to the International Space Station, namely Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin. Unfortunately, the plan was canceled for medical reasons.
The news comes from Roscosmos itself, the space agency of Russia, and also one of the five agencies that are involved in the International Space Station program. Also, we find out that the two astronauts will be replaced by backup crew members.
Anatoli Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner will join the crew
Roscosmos reveals to us that Anatoli Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner will be the new astronauts joining ISS. One of them will be appointed as commander, while the other will be the flight engineer. The space agency further says:
The changes will affect only the Russian part of the crew.
As for the medical reasons that led to the decision, Roscosmos hesitates to provide info, and it’s understandable. Everybody has the right to intimacy.
Lift-off will be on April 9
The US astronaut Chris Cassidy will be joining Anatoli Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner when they will climb aboard a Soyuz-2.1a booster. The launch will take place from Site 31 at Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The two new astronauts selected by Russia have to undergo additional spacewalk and robotics training as preparation for the mission.
While Ivanishin and Cassidy had been engaged in space missions before, the flight to the ISS will be a premiere for Ivan Vagner. However, Ivanishin has a strong background as an astronaut. At 51 years old, he has completed two expeditions on the International Space Station. Ivanishin has joined space missions that lasted over 280 days.
The International Space Station remains pretty active, and it doesn’t show any signs that it wants to slow down. Several days ago, a new spacecraft carrying supplies reached the space station.
