Three astronauts whose planned return spacecraft was harmed by a small meteoroid will be brought back on February 24 by a rescue ship, according to a statement from Russia's space agency on Saturday. "The launch is expected on February 24," a spokesman for the Roscosmos space agency told AFP news agency.&nbsp;

In September, MS-22 launched from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and carried NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin, and Sergei Prokopyev to the International Space Station. In March, they were supposed to go back to Earth in the same spaceship.&nbsp;

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However, in mid-December, MS-22 started leaking coolant after being struck by what US and Russian space experts think was a minor space pebble. The launch was also delayed Monday when concerns were raised about the Progress MS-21, a Russian supply ship stationed at the International Space Station, which had also experienced coolant leakage.&nbsp;

"A decision has been taken to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in an unmanned mode until March 2023," the Russian space agency said. "We stress that nothing threatens the life and health of the crew," it added. "Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft," Roscosmos said.

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The launch of the rescue ship should now be scheduled at 03:34 on February 24, according to the Russian space agency's main designers.

Now a state commission has to sign off on the new date. The state commission was anticipated to accept the revised launch date, the Roscosmos official told AFP. The Progress cargo ship will be de-orbited on February 19, according to a second statement from the space agency.

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Many issues have plagued Russia's space programme in recent years, resulting in the loss of satellites and other equipment.

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Three astronauts whose planned return spacecraft was harmed by a small meteoroid will be brought back on February 24 by a rescue ship, according to a statement from Russia's space agency on Saturday.

Three astronauts whose planned return spacecraft was harmed by a small meteoroid will be brought back on February 24 by a rescue ship, according to a statement from Russia's space agency on Saturday. "The launch is expected on February 24," a spokesman for the Roscosmos space agency told AFP news agency. In September, MS-22 launched from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and carried NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin, and Sergei Prokopyev to the International Space Station. In March, they were supposed to go back to Earth in the same spaceship. Also Read | Rishi Sunak says UK to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons, calls for new NATO charter However, in mid-December, MS-22 started leaking coolant after being struck by what US and Russian space experts think was a minor space pebble. The launch was also delayed Monday when concerns were raised about the Progress MS-21, a Russian supply ship stationed at the International Space Station, which had also experienced coolant leakage. "A decision has been taken to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in an unmanned mode until March 2023," the Russian space agency said. "We stress that nothing threatens the life and health of the crew," it added. "Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft," Roscosmos said. Also Read | Munich Security Conference: Kamala Harris vows support to Ukraine for 'as long as it takes' The launch of the rescue ship should now be scheduled at 03:34 on February 24, according to the Russian space agency's main designers. Now a state commission has to sign off on the new date. The state commission was anticipated to accept the revised launch date, the Roscosmos official told AFP. The Progress cargo ship will be de-orbited on February 19, according to a second statement from the space agency. Watch | Protesters throw bricks and bottles at security personnel, violent protest grips Suriname capital Many issues have plagued Russia's space programme in recent years, resulting in the loss of satellites and other equipment. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia expected to send spaceship to ISS in rescue mission to bring back three astronauts

The Italian authorities have given permission to 176 migrants aboard a rescue ship to disembark in the port of Taranto in the south of the country, the NGO SOS Mediterranee said on Monday.

"We are relieved that the 176 survivors can disembark in a safe place without unnecessary waiting," the organisation said in a tweet.&nbsp;

"We are currently heading north," towards Taranto, it added.&nbsp;

The Ocean Viking ship, operated by the NGOs SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders, picked up the migrants from inflatable boats in two operations off the coast of Libya. They include four pregnant women and at least nine people aged under 16.

Earlier on Monday, it had asked EU member countries to assign it a port where the migrants could disembark.

"No site in Libya can currently be considered safe" for migrants, SOS Mediterranee it had said in a statement.

The Ocean Viking's appeal for help comes as European leaders struggle to agree on how to jointly handle the thousands of people trying to reach the continent from Africa.

SOS Mediterranee said it was the fourth time it had asked for access to an EU port since August, shortly after relaunching rescue operations following a seven-month hiatus it blamed on obstruction by European nations.

Last month Italy, France, Germany, and Malta proposed a system for automatically distributing asylum seekers across the EU, but so far only a handful of other nations have backed the plan.

"Ad hoc accords cannot be the solution. We are calling on governments to put an end to an unacceptable situation," said Fabienne Lassalle, a deputy director at SOS Mediterranee France.

The Italian authorities have given permission to 176 migrants aboard a rescue ship to disembark in the port of Taranto in the south of the country, the NGO SOS Mediterranee said on Monday.

The Italian authorities have given permission to 176 migrants aboard a rescue ship to disembark in the port of Taranto in the south of the country, the NGO SOS Mediterranee said on Monday. "We are relieved that the 176 survivors can disembark in a safe place without unnecessary waiting," the organisation said in a tweet. "We are currently heading north," towards Taranto, it added. The Ocean Viking ship, operated by the NGOs SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders, picked up the migrants from inflatable boats in two operations off the coast of Libya. They include four pregnant women and at least nine people aged under 16. Earlier on Monday, it had asked EU member countries to assign it a port where the migrants could disembark. "No site in Libya can currently be considered safe" for migrants, SOS Mediterranee it had said in a statement. The Ocean Viking's appeal for help comes as European leaders struggle to agree on how to jointly handle the thousands of people trying to reach the continent from Africa. SOS Mediterranee said it was the fourth time it had asked for access to an EU port since August, shortly after relaunching rescue operations following a seven-month hiatus it blamed on obstruction by European nations. Last month Italy, France, Germany, and Malta proposed a system for automatically distributing asylum seekers across the EU, but so far only a handful of other nations have backed the plan. "Ad hoc accords cannot be the solution. We are calling on governments to put an end to an unacceptable situation," said Fabienne Lassalle, a deputy director at SOS Mediterranee France.

Italy allows migrants to disembark from rescue ship

Malta today reiterated its refusal to open its ports to an NGO migrant rescue ship in the Mediterranean with hundreds of people on board, ignoring calls from Italy's hardline interior minister to not "look the other way".

Some 629 migrants were saved by SOS Mediterranee yesterday and are stuck aboard the French NGO's ship Aquarius, which is currently between Malta and Sicily waiting for a secure port at which to dock.

Matteo Salvini, in a joint statement with Danilo Toninelli, the minister in charge of the Italian coastguard, insisted that Malta "cannot continue to look the other way when it comes to respecting precise international conventions on the protection of human life."

"That's why we ask the government in Valletta to take in the Aquarius in order to offer first aid to the migrants on board," the statement continued.

Malta's government replied saying Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had spoken to Italian premier Giuseppe Conte, and underlined "that Malta is acting in full conformity with its international obligations".

"As such Malta will not take the said vessel in its ports," the statement continued.

Media reports earlier said Salvini had threatened to close access to Italian ports for migrant rescue ships if Malta fails to act.

In the meantime, Conte said that Italy has sent two patrol ships with doctors on board "ready to intervene and ensure the health of anyone on board the Aquarius who might have the need".

Speaking to AFP, a Maltese government spokesman insisted that the rescue of the migrants took place in the Libyan search and rescue area and was headed up by the rescue coordination centre in Rome, meaning Malta has no legal obligation to take in the migrants.

Speaking to news channel Sky TG24, Aquarius crew member Alessandro Porro said that they were north of Malta and had "received no communications from the Maltese authorities".

"The people we saved yesterday were in a difficult condition, at least 50 were at risk of drowning. We need to have an idea of what port to go to, something that up to now we haven't had."

The migrants were rescued by Aquarius in six separate night-time operations in the central Mediterranean yesterday.

The French organisation said that among those saved and brought on board are 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 small children and seven pregnant women.

Italy's spat with Malta began after its reported refusal to come to the aid of another rescue ship Seefuchs, which was stranded with 126 migrants on board due to violent seas until it was allowed to dock in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo yesterday.

Media reports earlier said Salvini had threatened to close access to Italian ports for migrant rescue ships if Malta fails to act.

Malta today reiterated its refusal to open its ports to an NGO migrant rescue ship in the Mediterranean with hundreds of people on board, ignoring calls from Italy's hardline interior minister to not "look the other way". Some 629 migrants were saved by SOS Mediterranee yesterday and are stuck aboard the French NGO's ship Aquarius, which is currently between Malta and Sicily waiting for a secure port at which to dock. Matteo Salvini, in a joint statement with Danilo Toninelli, the minister in charge of the Italian coastguard, insisted that Malta "cannot continue to look the other way when it comes to respecting precise international conventions on the protection of human life." "That's why we ask the government in Valletta to take in the Aquarius in order to offer first aid to the migrants on board," the statement continued. Malta's government replied saying Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had spoken to Italian premier Giuseppe Conte, and underlined "that Malta is acting in full conformity with its international obligations". "As such Malta will not take the said vessel in its ports," the statement continued. Media reports earlier said Salvini had threatened to close access to Italian ports for migrant rescue ships if Malta fails to act. In the meantime, Conte said that Italy has sent two patrol ships with doctors on board "ready to intervene and ensure the health of anyone on board the Aquarius who might have the need". Speaking to AFP, a Maltese government spokesman insisted that the rescue of the migrants took place in the Libyan search and rescue area and was headed up by the rescue coordination centre in Rome, meaning Malta has no legal obligation to take in the migrants. Speaking to news channel Sky TG24, Aquarius crew member Alessandro Porro said that they were north of Malta and had "received no communications from the Maltese authorities". "The people we saved yesterday were in a difficult condition, at least 50 were at risk of drowning. We need to have an idea of what port to go to, something that up to now we haven't had." The migrants were rescued by Aquarius in six separate night-time operations in the central Mediterranean yesterday. The French organisation said that among those saved and brought on board are 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 small children and seven pregnant women. Italy's spat with Malta began after its reported refusal to come to the aid of another rescue ship Seefuchs, which was stranded with 126 migrants on board due to violent seas until it was allowed to dock in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo yesterday.

Europe migrant crisis: Malta rejects Italy's calls to take in rescue ship with 629 migrants

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