A Russian Soyuz spacecraft blasted off on Friday for the International Space Station (ISS) from where it will bring back to Earth a crew stranded due to a leak in the cooling system of their original return capsule. The unmanned Soyuz spacecraft took off for a two-day journey from Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan at 7:24 pm ET, and the mission also includes making repairs to the capsule.&nbsp;

In December, the cooling system of a Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking, apparently from a micrometeoroid hit, that is a tiny particle of space rock, leaving Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin and US astronaut Francisco Rubio, stranded. "The cause of the leak may be a micrometeorite entering the radiator," TASS had quoted Sergei Krikalev, a former cosmonaut and head of the crewed space flight program for Russia's space corporation Roscosmos, as saying. "Possible consequences are changes in the temperature regime."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/soyuz-ms-22-leak-3-astronauts-stranded-on-international-space-station-last-year-will-now-return-in-september-564371">3 astronauts stranded on International Space Station last year will now return in September</a>

Their mission was due to end in March, but the coolant leak meant that they were stuck at the ISS for longer. Roscosmos informed earlier this week&nbsp;that the trio will return to Earth aboard Soyuz MS-23 in September. The damaged MS-22 spacecraft will land without a crew in March.

The cosmonauts will be staying aboard the ISS till September in order to avoid a staffing void.

The Soyuz MS-23 is due to dock Saturday evening. You can catch the spacecraft docking LIVE on NASA's livestream which will start at 7:15 pm ET.

What had happened to Soyuz MS-22?

NASA said that a micrometeorite strike led to the coolant leak, impacting the integrity of the spacecraft which now could neither be used to take refuge, nor as a return vehicle. The micrometeorite made a hole in the MS-22’s radiator, resulting in the coolant to leak into space. Since now it wasn't possible to regulate the capsule’s cabin temperature, Roscosmos deemed the spacecraft unsafe.

Surprisingly, a second leak was reported on the cooling system of the Progress MS-21 cargo ship earlier this month. This prompted a slight delay in the MS-23 mission which was originally supposed to launch last week. Roscosmos again blamed the leak on an “external impact” and did not say anything about a common manufacturing defect.

What are micrometeoroids?

Tiny micrometeoroids are nothing but space rocks, mostly as small as a grain of sand. They are a common part of the space environment and are not known to cause heavy damage to the ISS and other spacecraft that are protected by advanced shielding.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Russian Soyuz spacecraft blasted off on Friday for the International Space Station (ISS) from where it will bring back to Earth a crew stranded due to a leak in the cooling system of their original return capsule.

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft blasted off on Friday for the International Space Station (ISS) from where it will bring back to Earth a crew stranded due to a leak in the cooling system of their original return capsule. The unmanned Soyuz spacecraft took off for a two-day journey from Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan at 7:24 pm ET, and the mission also includes making repairs to the capsule. In December, the cooling system of a Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking, apparently from a micrometeoroid hit, that is a tiny particle of space rock, leaving Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin and US astronaut Francisco Rubio, stranded. "The cause of the leak may be a micrometeorite entering the radiator," TASS had quoted Sergei Krikalev, a former cosmonaut and head of the crewed space flight program for Russia's space corporation Roscosmos, as saying. "Possible consequences are changes in the temperature regime." Also Read | 3 astronauts stranded on International Space Station last year will now return in September Their mission was due to end in March, but the coolant leak meant that they were stuck at the ISS for longer. Roscosmos informed earlier this week that the trio will return to Earth aboard Soyuz MS-23 in September. The damaged MS-22 spacecraft will land without a crew in March. The cosmonauts will be staying aboard the ISS till September in order to avoid a staffing void. The Soyuz MS-23 is due to dock Saturday evening. You can catch the spacecraft docking LIVE on NASA's livestream which will start at 7:15 pm ET. What had happened to Soyuz MS-22? NASA said that a micrometeorite strike led to the coolant leak, impacting the integrity of the spacecraft which now could neither be used to take refuge, nor as a return vehicle. The micrometeorite made a hole in the MS-22’s radiator, resulting in the coolant to leak into space. Since now it wasn't possible to regulate the capsule’s cabin temperature, Roscosmos deemed the spacecraft unsafe. Surprisingly, a second leak was reported on the cooling system of the Progress MS-21 cargo ship earlier this month. This prompted a slight delay in the MS-23 mission which was originally supposed to launch last week. Roscosmos again blamed the leak on an “external impact” and did not say anything about a common manufacturing defect. What are micrometeoroids? Tiny micrometeoroids are nothing but space rocks, mostly as small as a grain of sand. They are a common part of the space environment and are not known to cause heavy damage to the ISS and other spacecraft that are protected by advanced shielding. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Lifeboat mission: Soyuz MS-23 blasts off to bring back stranded cosmonauts from International Space Station

Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21). One of the three astronauts is NASA's Francisco Rubio. Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, the other two, are Russian cosmonauts. They were due to end their mission in March. Two months ago, they were stuck when the cooling system of their Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking.&nbsp; "(Their return flight) is now scheduled to take place on Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023," Russian space agency Roscosmos said in its latest update.

Watch: WION Fineprint | Russian Space Agency: Soyuz MS-22 radiator hit by micro meteoroid

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Soyuz MS-22 capsule coolant leak 
The coolant leak on December 14 on Soyuz MS-22 was believed to have been caused by a micro meteoroid, Roscosmos and NASA earlier said. Joel Montalbano, NASA's space station program manager, insisted last month while talking to reporters: "We're not calling this a rescue Soyuz. I'm calling it a replacement Soyuz. This is the next Soyuz that was scheduled to fly in March. It will just fly a little early." The coolant leak was captured in a stunning video recorded by station cameras, which was shared widely. Docked to the ISS, Soyuz MS-22 was deemed unfit to bring back the three astronauts.

Last week, Russia delayed the launch of MS-23 return capsule, which was initially scheduled for February 20. The capsule launch has now been pushed to March. The delay is reportedly related to a leak on another Russian spacecraft docked with the ISS — the Progress-82 freighter, also known as Progress MS-21. It was launched in late October.

Also read: <a href="http://wionews.com/science/a-tiny-meteorite-probably-struck-soyuz-causing-a-coolant-leak-russian-official-says-543545">A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says</a>

"A commission is working on the Progress MS-21 case. Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in unmanned mode until March 2023," Roscosmos wrote in a Telegram post on February 13, space.com reported.

(With agency inputs) 

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Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21).

Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) last year because of a leak on their return capsule, three astronauts will return to Earth in September in a Soyuz MS-23 replacement capsule, Russia said on Tuesday (February 21). One of the three astronauts is NASA's Francisco Rubio. Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, the other two, are Russian cosmonauts. They were due to end their mission in March. Two months ago, they were stuck when the cooling system of their Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking. "(Their return flight) is now scheduled to take place on Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023," Russian space agency Roscosmos said in its latest update. Watch: WION Fineprint | Russian Space Agency: Soyuz MS-22 radiator hit by micro meteoroid × Soyuz MS-22 capsule coolant leak The coolant leak on December 14 on Soyuz MS-22 was believed to have been caused by a micro meteoroid, Roscosmos and NASA earlier said. Joel Montalbano, NASA's space station program manager, insisted last month while talking to reporters: "We're not calling this a rescue Soyuz. I'm calling it a replacement Soyuz. This is the next Soyuz that was scheduled to fly in March. It will just fly a little early." The coolant leak was captured in a stunning video recorded by station cameras, which was shared widely. Docked to the ISS, Soyuz MS-22 was deemed unfit to bring back the three astronauts. Last week, Russia delayed the launch of MS-23 return capsule, which was initially scheduled for February 20. The capsule launch has now been pushed to March. The delay is reportedly related to a leak on another Russian spacecraft docked with the ISS — the Progress-82 freighter, also known as Progress MS-21. It was launched in late October. Also read: A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says "A commission is working on the Progress MS-21 case. Until the cause of the emergency situation is determined, a decision was made to postpone the launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft in unmanned mode until March 2023," Roscosmos wrote in a Telegram post on February 13, space.com reported. (With agency inputs) 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.

Soyuz MS-22 leak: 3 astronauts stranded on International Space Station last year will now return in September

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Lifeboat mission: Soyuz MS-23 blasts off to bring back stranded cosmonauts from International Space Station

Soyuz MS-22 leak: 3 astronauts stranded on International Space Station last year will now return in September