Soyuz Rocket Returns to Baikonur Launch Pad After Technical Repairs

The Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft was reinstalled at the launch pad of Site 31 at Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday, a cosmodrome source said. The rocket was rolled out at 07:30 local time along the cosmodrome's railway line from Integration and Testing Building 40 and erected vertically at launch device No. 6.

The rocket had first been rolled out to the launch pad on September 6, but technical issues were detected in its third stage, prompting workers to remove it from the launch device on September 8 and return it to the integration building for troubleshooting.

Following the closure of the service towers, specialists from Russian rocket and space industry enterprises began the first launch-day program activities. Over the next three days, cosmodrome specialists will conduct final system checks on both the launch facility and the launch vehicle.

The Soyuz-2.1b rocket is scheduled to launch the Progress MS-35 spacecraft on September 16 at 18:33 Astana time, delivering more than 2.5 metric tons of cargo to the International Space Station as part of a resupply mission.