Soyuz rocket to launch Japanese space tourists into orbit installed in Baikonur launchpad

Soyuz-2.1A rocket that will inject Soyuz MS-20 transport spaceship into orbit was installed on launch p at Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sunday. space rocket was delivered to Site 31 launch complex of cosmodrome in a horizontal position on transport and installation unit, Russian space agency, Roscosmos, informed through a Twitter post. After its delivery, specialists from Roscosmos installed rocket on its launch p in a vertical position.

Soyuz MS-20 space transport is scheduled to launch at 7:38 GMT on Wednesday and is expected to dock at International Space Station (ISS) at 13:41 GMT on same day, Sputnik reported. prime crew of Soyuz MS-20 includes Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, Japanese billionaire businessman Yusaku Maezawa and film producer Yozo Hirano. ditionally, backup crew will include Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov and space flight participant Shun Ogiso. flight participants will stay at ISS for 12 days.

It is pertinent to mention that 49-year-old business tycoon, Maezawa will be first space tourist to travel to ISS with Roscosmos since co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberte in 2009, Strait Times reported. During ir stay, Hirono will shoot videos of Maezawa for latter’s YouTube channel. spaceflight comes about two months after  Russian film crew, including actor Yulia Pereslid and film director Klim Shipenko, returned to Earth after spending 12 days aboard ISS.

Japanese space tourists reach Baikonur launch site ahe of trip

Earlier on Thursday (Dec 2), crew members of Soyuz MS-20 to ISS reached Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a check inspection of manned spacecraft, Roscosmos informed through a statement released on Twitter. 

"After introductory briefing, cosmonauts and space flight participants familiarised mselves with composition, placement of cargo and equipment in descent vehicle and in utility compartment," statement said.

At end of inspection, crews reported that re were no comments on results of control "fitting", and thanked all specialists for ir work.

main and backup crews also visited museum of Baikonur cosmodrome, famous for its unique collection of exhibits to carry on pre-launch trition. Cosmonaut Misurkin and space flight participants Maezawa and Hirano later signed autographs at booth with memorable inscriptions and wishes in guest book.

(Image: @Roscosmos/Twitter)