At the site No. 17 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome on March 28, 2021, a solemn ceremony of raising the flags of countries participating in the international launch of the transport piloted ship “Union MS-18” was held before the building of the “Cosmonavt” hotel. It traditionally took part primary and duplicating crews of the upcoming long-term expedition to the international space station.
This event has been carried out since the 1970s, revered by all generations of astronauts and symbolizes the official start of the final stage of the training of astronauts to the piloted start. Today, it was attended by representatives of subsidiaries of Roskosmos State Corporation, providing pre-commission training of crews, as well as the administration of the city of Baikonur.
Roscosmos Cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Peter Dubrov raised the flag of Russia, astronauts of Roscosmos Anton Slippers and Oleg Artemyev – Flag of Kazakhstan, and NASA Astronauts Mark Wanda Hai and Ann McClein – Flag of the United States of America. Here, the head of the Operational Group, the Russian pilot-cosmonaut Valery Korzun handed the Soyuz MS-18 ship to the Soyuvera to Peter Dubrov to the Cosmonaut ID number 149. Such a document is issued to each cosmonaut, which is preparing to fulfill its first space flight.
After the flag raising ceremony, according to the tradition of a duplicating crew, Anton Sluffers, Oleg Artemyev and Ann McClein went to a review bus tour of Baikonuru, whose history is inextricably linked with the names of great people involved in the development of space.
both crews also continue to prepare for space flight factors, classes on the side documentation of the piloted ship “Union MS-18” are held, instructing safety instructions when working on the Russian segment of the International Space Station and workout on manual ads. The launch from the site number 31 is scheduled for April 9, 2021, flight to the ISS will be held on the “superbystroy”, twilight scheme.