NASA to examine Soyuz MS-22 using Canadarm-2

WASHINGTON. Dec 16 (Interfax) - The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to examine Russia's Soyuz MS-22 spaceship, where a coolant leak occurred on Thursday, using the Canadarm-2 robotic arm.

"Plans for an additional inspection of the Soyuz exterior using the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm are underway," NASA said.

"NASA and Roscosmos continue to coordinate external imagery and inspection plans to aid in evaluating the external leak location," it said.

Roscosmos Executive Director for Manned Programs Sergei Krikalev said on Thursday that a micrometeorite hit was a probable cause of the Soyuz MS-22 coolant leak.

Ground specialists are analyzing consequences of the leak from the spaceship's assist module and are assessing its thermal balance. A decision on the station's further flight program will be made once the Soyuz MS-22 condition is assessed.

Roscosmos said earlier that all systems of the International Space Station (ISS) and the spaceship were operating normally and the crew was safe.