FEDOR robot is okay after Souyz MS-14's failed docking with ISS - Roscosmos
MOSCOW. Aug 24 (Interfax) - The FEDOR humanoid robot is monitoring the situation on the Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft, Roscosmos spokesperson Vladimir Ustimenko said.
"The repeat docking is on the 26th, on Monday morning, Skybot is doing okay, monitoring the situation onboard," Ustimenko said on his Facebook page.
The Souyz MS-14 manned transport spacecraft was unable to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) earlier on Monday. According to NASA, it was caused by malfunction in the station's docking system. The crew will have to replace some equipment.
The spacecraft was able to approach the ISS at a distance of about 100 meters and then it started to fluctuate, thus preventing the Kurs automated docking system from directing it to the ISS. The Soyuz MS-14 is currently at a safe distance from the station. According to Roscosmos, the docking attempt has been postponed to additional date, Monday.
A Soyuz-2.1a rocket coupled with the Soyuz MS-14 manned spaceship blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Thursday. It was the first Soyuz-2 launch with a Souyz MS manned spaceship on board. Currently, Soyuz-FG rockets are used to send crews to the ISS, but Roscosmos has only one Soyuz-FG rocket left and it will transport the next expedition to the ISS in late September.
Soyuz-FG has an outdated analogue control system made by Ukraine's Kommunar company. Soyuz-2.1a has a digital control system made in Russia and designed by NPO Avtomatiki in Yekaterinburg. This rocket will be used to launch Russian manned spaceships starting in 2020.
The FEDOR humanoid robot is onboard the spacecraft.