Soyuz MS-14

Descriptions:

• SOYUZ MS-14 is a Soyuz unmanned spaceflight and will become a test for the "Soyuz-2.1a" launch vehicle, because before it put only cargo ships and space vehicles of various purposes into orbit. MS-14 is the 143th ?? flight of a Soyuz spacecraft.

Mission details:

• On Aug 22, 2019 Roskosmos launched Soyuz MS-14 on a Soyuz-2-1a rocket. This was the first launch of the combination and tested the interaction of the modern rocket′s digital control system with the old-fashioned Soyuz spaceship′s abort system. Soyuz MS-14 was launched without a crew, but a humanoid robot Skybot F-850 'Fyodor' takes up one of the seats.
  Soyuz MS-14 also carries 658 kg of cargo for ISS.
  
  

  Soyuz MS-14 Skybot F-850 robot. Credit: Roscosmos

  Skybot F-850 robot. Credit: Donat Sorokin/TASS/Getty

  
  
• Soyuz MS-14, flying without a crew, completed a rendezvous with the ISS at 0513 UTC on Aug 24, 2019. However, at 0532 UTC after a flyaround at a distance of 400 metres, it failed to lock on to the Kurs system on the Poisk module. It was later determined that Poisk&prim;s system was not working correctly. The ISS crew sent the abort signal at 0536 UTC and the Soyuz was ordered to retreat to a safe distance.
• On Aug 27, 2019 at 0308 UTC Soyuz MS-14 indeed succeeded in docking with the Zvezda aft port, delivering cargo and the Fyodor robot.
• The Fyodor robot was loaded back into Soyuz MS-14 along with some return cargo and Soyuz MS-14 undocked from Zvezda at 1814 UTC Sep 6, 2019 landing in Kazakhstan at 2132 UTC to complete its test flight.
• Robotic operations were carried on Sep 3 to Sep 5, 2019 on two Main Bus Switching Units (MBSUs). MSBU 3 (S/N X700385) was brought inside Kibo from ELC-2 for repairs and then returned outside to ESP-2. MBSU 1 (S/N C250636) was brought inside Kibo from ESP-2 and will be returned to Earth on the next Dragon flight.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Baikonur 22.08.2019, registered mail.

Launch cancel Houston. Credit: #411c