21 Feb 2023 09:30

Roscosmos blames external impact for depressurization of Progress MS-21 cargo carrier at ISS

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Preliminary findings indicate that external impact was behind the depressurization of the thermal control system of the Progress MS-21 resupply ship, then docked to the International Space Station (ISS), the same cause that was earlier reported in the case of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, Roscosmos said on Tuesday.

"The preliminary information provided by the S. P. Korolyov Energia Rocket and Space Corporation [part of Roscosmos] indicates that the Progress MS-21 was subject to some external impact, as was the Soyuz MS-22 earlier," the state corporation's press service said.

These conclusions have been drawn based on the images that show changes on the spaceship's outer surface, including on the radiator of its instrument and assembly unit and solar panels, it said.

"Holes have been found on them that were not recorded either during the production of the Progress MS-21 at plant, during its preparations for the launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, or during its flight and docking with the ISS," Roscosmos said.