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| Soyuz MS-16 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Soyuz MS-16 |
| Mission type | Crewed mission to International Space Station |
| Operator | Roscosmos |
| Cospar id | 2020-022A |
| Satcat | 45590 |
| Mission duration | 196 days |
| Spacecraft type | Soyuz MS |
| Manufacturer | RKK Energia |
| Launch date | 2020-04-09 UTC |
| Launch rocket | Soyuz-2.1a |
| Launch site | Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31/6 |
| Landing date | 2020-10-22 UTC |
| Landing site | Kazakh steppe |
| Programme | Soyuz programme |
| Previous mission | Soyuz MS-15 |
| Next mission | Soyuz MS-17 |
Soyuz MS-16 Soyuz MS-16 was a 2020 crewed flight of a Soyuz spacecraft that delivered a multinational crew to the International Space Station for Expedition 62/63. Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket and operated by Roscosmos in cooperation with NASA and JAXA, the mission conducted station crew rotation, scientific research, and hardware operations before returning to Earth in October 2020.
The mission supported long-duration operations aboard the International Space Station during Expeditions involving NASA Astronauts, Roscosmos cosmonauts, and partners from ESA, JAXA, and CSA. It used a modernized Soyuz MS spacecraft designed by RKK Energia and launched under coordination with the State Space Corporation Roscosmos. The flight occurred amid global events in 2020 that affected spaceflight schedules, involving stakeholders such as SpaceX and Boeing in broader crewed-vehicle development contexts.
The three-person crew comprised a commander from Roscosmos and mission specialists from NASA and Roscosmos. The crew worked alongside crewmembers from Expedition 62 and Expedition 63 including astronauts from ESA Astronaut Corps and JAXA. Training involved facilities run by Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and Johnson Space Center with support from teams at Star City and Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center affiliates. International coordination included agencies such as European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NASA Johnson Space Center, and private providers like SpaceX for parallel crew transport.
The spacecraft was a Soyuz MS series capsule configured and built by RKK Energia at plants coordinated with Roscosmos and tested at TsENKI facilities. The MS variant incorporated upgrades in avionics, communications via Luch data relay satellites, a redesigned solar array system, and improved docking capabilities compatible with the International Docking Adapter and Poisk module. The vehicle launched on a Soyuz-2.1a rocket built by Progress Rocket Space Centre and used trajectory planning synchronized with ground stations including Baikonur telemetry and ESRIN support.
Liftoff occurred from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31/6 on 9 April 2020, following launch processing at Site 254 and mission integration at Site 112. The ascent profile used a two-day expedited rendezvous option with orbital insertion parameters coordinated with Mission Control Center Moscow and Houston Mission Control. Docking with the Zvezda module's Poisk or Rassvet port occurred after orbital phasing maneuvers guided by automated systems and oversight from flight controllers at TsUP and NASA Flight Control teams.
On-station activities included scientific experiments across disciplines supported by facilities such as Kibo, Columbus, and Harmony modules. Research projects involved life sciences experiments associated with European Space Agency programs, materials science using Microgravity Science Glovebox, Earth observation with instruments like ECOSTRESS-type payloads, and technology demonstrations coordinated with NASA Ames Research Center and JAXA laboratories. Maintenance tasks addressed hardware from Zarya and Zvezda, EVA support coordinated with Roscosmos spacewalk planners and NASA Extravehicular Activity Office, and international cargo transfers handled through visiting vehicles including Progress, HTV, and Cygnus missions.
The descent phase used a deorbit burn timed with recovery forces from Roscosmos and Kazakhstan in coordination with Search and Rescue teams at Yug-SAR and landing operations near the Kazakh steppe. Touchdown occurred on 22 October 2020 after reentry procedures that employed the Soyuz descent module's heat shield and parachute system. Post-landing medical checks and transport returned crew to facilities at Baikonur and later to training centers such as Star City and Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center for debriefing.
The mission marked a planned crew rotation that preserved continuous human presence on the International Space Station and underscored the resilience of international cooperation among Roscosmos, NASA, ESA, JAXA, and CSA. Technical updates to the Soyuz MS series improved communications via the Luch relay network and enhanced avionics reliability developed by RKK Energia. The flight occurred in a period of heightened attention to crewed access alternatives including SpaceX Crew Dragon and the ongoing Commercial Crew Program, influencing manifest adjustments across agencies. No major in-flight anomalies jeopardized crew safety, though launch processing and scheduling had to adapt to global health considerations affecting agencies like Roscosmos and NASA.
Category:Soyuz missions Category:2020 in spaceflight