MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin has visited Baikonur and held an overnight meeting with the administration of the Center for Operation of Space Ground-based Infrastructure (TsENKI) to discuss the delivery of equipment for the Soyuz-5 launch site.
"An overnight meeting with the administration of the Center for Operation of Space Ground-based Infrastructure. The theme - the delivery of technological equipment for the Soyuz-5 LV launch site and the beginning of flight tests scheduled for 2023. Baikonur. The assembly and test building of Energia Corp.," Rogozin said on Telegram.
In addition, Rogozin met with the administration of the Khrunichev Center and the Energia Corporation in Baikonur. "Results of the final trials of the Nauka module were discussed. It will be placed in a vacuum chamber in March," the Roscosmos chief said.
As reported earlier, Nauka and another two modules designed for the ISS, the node and power ones, may become the foundation of Russia's own orbital station.
Currently, Nauka is undergoing a cycle of control tests in Baikonur. The module's launch has been delayed repeatedly and is now scheduled for May. The launch may be postponed again, this time until July, if additional checks are needed. Roscosmos said on December 30, 2020, that the module had passed about half of the required 754 tests and checks.