The US-Russian Expedition 57 crew launched toward the International Space Station inside Soyuz MS-10 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 08:40 UTC on Thursday, October 11, 2018, was forced to make emergency landing several minutes after launch. According to their reports, they felt like they were already in weightlessness.
Shortly after launch, there was an issue with the booster, NASA said in a statement issued immediately after launch, adding the spacecraft separated from the booster and the team was in contact with the NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin as the capsule returns in a ballistic descent mode.
Search and rescue teams have been deployed to the landing site and the crew was found in good condition and transported to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia outside of Moscow.
#СоюзМС10: космонавт Роскосмоса Алексей Овчинин и астронавт @NASA Ник Хейг сейчас находятся в Жезказгане и проходят обследование перед вылетом.
— РОСКОСМОС (@roscosmos) October 11, 2018
Генеральный директор Роскосмоса Дмитрий Рогозин (@Rogozin) принял решение о транспортировке космонавтов на Байконур. pic.twitter.com/b1IzKZZI8O
.@AstroHague and Alexey Ovchinin are on helicopters, making their way back to Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Search & rescue teams report that they remain in good condition after a safe landing following an issue with their launch on a Soyuz earlier. Live updates: https://t.co/mzKW5uDsTi pic.twitter.com/F2KV9P5pro
— NASA (@NASA) October 11, 2018
Для выяснения причины аварии на РН Союз-ФГ моим решением образована государственная комиссия. Она уже приступила к работе. Изучается телеметрия.
— Дмитрий Рогозин (@Rogozin) October 11, 2018
Службы спасения работают с первой секунды аварии. Система аварийного спасения корабля Союз-МС сработала штатно. Экипаж спасен.
.@NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin are in good condition following today's aborted launch. I’m grateful that everyone is safe. A thorough investigation into the cause of the incident will be conducted. Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/M76yisHaKF
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) October 11, 2018
Featured image credit: NASA
