BAIKONUR. Feb 16 (Interfax-AVN) - Preparations for the April 15 launch of the Russian Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft to the International Space Station began at the Baikonur launch pad on Wednesday. The Soyuz TMA-6 is to carry the next long-term ISS crew to the station.
"Preparations for this piloted ship are being made in the testing hangar at the launch pad's 254th unit. We have installed Soyuz into the stand today and equipment for the connection of the ground and onboard cable systems is being prepared," a source at the launch pad told Interfax-Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz TMA-6 is to take the 11th long-term expedition to the ISS. The expedition includes commander Sergei Kirkalev, NASA astronaut John Phillips and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori, who are currently being trained in Star City.
The 10th long-term expedition is currently working on the ISS, made up of Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov and NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao.
The source said Baikonur is also preparing the Progress M-52 cargo spacecraft for launch.
In total, two piloted spacecraft carrying the 11th and 12th expeditions to the ISS and four cargo Progress crafts are to be launched from Baikonur in 2005.