The launch of the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft carrying members of a new crew to the International Space Station has been tentatively scheduled for April 5, a source at the Baikonur Space Center said on Thursday.
The new crew with Russians Alexander Samokutyayev and Andrei Borisenko, and U.S. astronaut Ronald Garan are expected to arrive at Baikonur on March 21, the source said.
“The preliminary date for the launch is April 5, around 4 a.m. Moscow time and a reserve date is April 7,” he said, adding that crew training is due to start on March 22.
A final decision on the launch date is to be made by the Russian space agency Roscosmos at a board meeting set for Friday.
Roscosmos said Monday it had postponed the launch of a Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS due to technical problems.
The launch of the TMA-21 was originally scheduled for March 30.
MOSCOW, March 17 (RIA Novosti)