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Rare Abort of Soyuz Launch Due to Dead Battery
A recent Soyuz launch bound for the International Space Station was brought to an abrupt halt just 21 seconds before liftoff due to a dead battery, revealed Roscosmos General Director Yuri Borisov. The incident occurred as NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya waited onboard their spacecraft at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The liftoff, slated for 9:21 a.m. EDT (1321 GMT), was promptly suspended due to a voltage drop in the chemical current source of the rocket, as per reports.
Unplanned Soyuz Launch Abortion
The automated abort of the Soyuz launch transpired as two umbilical connections were disengaged from the rocket just before engine ignition. Roscosmos swiftly deployed engineers to the launch pad to assess the situation and ensure the safety of both the vehicle and crew. NASA’s Mission Control relayed the news to ISS astronauts, affirming the crew’s well-being amidst the unexpected turn of events.
Despite the unforeseen delay, the Soyuz spacecraft remains a reliable mode of transport for crewed flights to the ISS, with a long history of successful manned missions. Notwithstanding its occasional setbacks, the Soyuz rocket serves as a vital lifeline for ferrying astronauts to and from the space station, an essential component of Russia’s space program.
Continuation of Missions
As engineers work to address the battery issue, the launch schedule for Dyson, Novitskiy, and Vasilevskaya remains uncertain. The next potential launch opportunity is earmarked for Saturday, pending further assessments and necessary repairs. NASA has committed to providing updates in collaboration with Roscosmos and Energia, the Soyuz rocket manufacturer.
Meanwhile, another mission is underway in Florida, where an uncrewed SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised to deliver essential supplies to the ISS from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 launch, scheduled for 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT), is expected to proceed as planned, bolstering the station’s logistical support.
Stay tuned for the livestream of the CRS-30 cargo launch, where NASA and SpaceX will showcase the resupply mission’s progress as it unfolds.
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