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| Soyuz MS-18 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Soyuz MS-18 |
| Mission type | Crewed mission to International Space Station |
| Operator | Roscosmos |
| Cospar id | 2021-024A |
| Satcat | 48206 |
| Mission duration | 194 days |
| Spacecraft | Soyuz MS |
| Manufacturer | RSC Energia |
| Launch date | 2021-04-09 07:42:45 UTC |
| Launch rocket | Soyuz-2.1a |
| Launch site | Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31/6 |
| Landing date | 2021-10-17 00:55 UTC |
| Landing site | Kazakh Steppe |
| Orbit reference | Low Earth orbit |
| Programme | Soyuz programme |
| Previous mission | Soyuz MS-17 |
| Next mission | Soyuz MS-19 |
Soyuz MS-18 was a 2021 crewed flight of a Soyuz spacecraft that transported personnel to the International Space Station for Expedition 65. The mission, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-2.1a launcher, supported long-duration research operations and international crew rotation between Roscosmos, NASA, and JAXA partners. It carried a multinational crew to the Russian Orbital Segment and participated in cargo transfers, EVA support, and spacecraft swap procedures.
The flight occurred in the context of the ongoing International Space Station program, part of joint operations among Roscosmos, NASA, ESA, JAXA, and CSA. Objectives included crew rotation for Expedition 65, delivery of specialists trained for Russian segment maintenance, support for research in microgravity facilities like Kibo, Columbus, and Destiny, and the transfer of hardware for experiments coordinated with institutions such as RSC Energia, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, TsNIIMash, and laboratories at Moscow State University. The mission also enabled continuity for investigations in life sciences sponsored by European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, and NASA programs, and facilitated testing of procedures for spacecraft operations related to the Soyuz programme modernization and the forthcoming Lunar Gateway support studies.
The spacecraft was a Soyuz-MS series vehicle manufactured by RSC Energia and integrated by specialists at Progress Rocket Space Centre and flight controllers at TsUP Korolyov. The three-person crew consisted of flight engineers representing Roscosmos and NASA as well as visiting researchers affiliated with institutes including Skolkovo Foundation and Russian Academy of Sciences. Crew training occurred at facilities such as Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Johnson Space Center, and simulation centers in Star City and Houston, Texas. Medical support involved teams from Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and NASA flight surgeons coordinated with European Space Agency clinicians.
Soyuz MS-18 launched on a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31/6, following integration at the MIK-112 processing facility and rollout to the Launched Complex. The ascent profile was monitored by flight control centers including TsUP Korolyov and Mission Control Center Houston, with tracking assistance from the Mission Control Center network and ground stations within the Russian Ground Segment. The nominal two-orbit rendezvous profile relied on automated systems developed by RSC Energia and flight software validated during earlier missions such as Soyuz MS-15 and Soyuz MS-16. International coordination involved liaison officers from Roscosmos, NASA, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
Docking to the Rassvet or Poisk port on the Russian Orbital Segment was executed using the Kurs automated rendezvous system with monitoring from crews aboard Expedition 65 including representatives from NASA and Roscosmos. On-orbit activities encompassed transfer of scientific payloads for experiments conducted by teams from European Space Agency, Max Planck Society, CNES, DLR, Italian Space Agency, Austrian Space Agency, Russian Academy of Sciences, and NASA divisions such as NASA Ames Research Center and Johnson Space Center. The crew supported extravehicular activity planning with expertise from Canadian Space Agency engineers and performed maintenance on systems from manufacturers including RSC Energia and NPP Zvezda. Research operations included biological studies with collaborators from Moscow State University and German Aerospace Center, materials science payloads tied to ESA Microgravity Research, and technology demonstrations aligned with Roscosmos modernization goals.
At mission end, undocking procedures were coordinated between TsUP Korolyov flight controllers and Mission Control Center Houston with support from the Russian Air Force search-and-rescue recovery teams and medical personnel from Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency. The reentry used the Soyuz descent module, with trajectory planning referencing previous Soyuz recovery profiles and contingency plans developed with Roscosmos and NASA specialists. The crew landed on the Kazakh Steppe near Jezkazgan and received post-landing support from recovery units including representatives from Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and RSC Energia.
Soyuz MS-18 contributed to crew rotation continuity for Expedition 65 and sustained research operations across international programs involving NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, CSA, and national research institutions such as Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow State University, and Skolkovo Foundation. The flight validated operational procedures for the Soyuz-MS series and reinforced logistical links among launch infrastructure at Baikonur Cosmodrome, manufacturing centers like RSC Energia, and mission control hubs including TsUP Korolyov and Mission Control Center Houston. Scientific outputs informed ongoing experiments supported by collaborators such as Max Planck Society, DLR, CNES, Italian Space Agency, and European Space Agency, while crew experience fed into training pipelines at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and Johnson Space Center. The mission underscored international cooperation exemplified by the International Space Station partnership and contributed to long-term human spaceflight goals connected to programs like Artemis and concepts for the Lunar Gateway.
Category:Soyuz missions Category:2021 in spaceflight