Roscosmos head expects Soyuz MS-22 crew's routine return to Earth from ISS

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - Specialists will do everything possible to ensure the safe and routine return of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft crew to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said.

"We will hope for the routine conclusion of your expedition," Borisov said during a communication session with the Russian cosmonauts on board the ISS live-streamed by NASA.

The Soyuz MS-22 crew commander, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Prokopyev, in turn said that the ISS crew is prepared for any emergencies.

"We already encountered [simulated] emergencies of this sort during our pre-flight training. Therefore, we are taking all steps that we practiced on Earth," Prokopyev said.

As reported, the Soyuz MS-22 crew is scheduled to return to Earth from the ISS on March 28, 2023.

Borisov said on Monday that a preliminary examination of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft revealed a 0.8-millimeter hole in the coolant system, causing it to start leaking air.

Decisions on the situation around the damaged spaceship will be adopted at a meeting on December 27, he said. The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft may be rapidly prepared and sent to the ISS by February 19 if necessary.

Roscosmos, however, has said that there is no need for an urgent evacuation of the cosmonauts from the ISS.

The state space corporation reported on December 15 that Russian cosmonauts' spacewalk outside the ISS had been called off for technical reasons.

Sergei Krikalyov, executive director of crewed programs at Roscosmos, said the contour of the external radiator of the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS had depressurized during the preparations for the spacewalk.

The leak in the spacecraft's cooling system could have been caused by a micrometeorite hit, he said.

Roscosmos and NASA said earlier that all systems of the ISS and the Soyuz MS-22 are in good condition and the crew is safe.

The ISS is currently operated by Russian cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin and Anna Kikina, NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, and JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata.