Russia has successfully launched the Nauka Lab module to the International Space Station (ISS) with a delay of 14 years. With Nauka module's help, Russian astronauts will be able to conduct more scientific research. Nauka is being described as Russia's largest space laboratory. The name of NAUKA is also known as Russian Multipurpose Research Module (MLM).
Nauka, the Russian word for 'science', was launched into space on a Proton-M rocket from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Russia's state news agency has reported that at this time the Nuka module has successfully separated from the Proton-M rocket outside the orbital outpost. It is expected to connect with the International Space Station on 29 July.
Want to update your desktop wallpapers? A set of photos of the Proton-M with the #Nauka laboratory module launch.
— РОСКОСМОС (@roscosmos) July 21, 2021
Some more statistics and fancy figures: today’s launch was the 111st for the modernized variant of Proton rocket. pic.twitter.com/hCvmqnhYkM
The Nauka module, which weighs 22 tons, was planned to be launched in 2007 but its launch got delayed over time. The module is carried with it the European Robotic Orm ERA. This robotic arm has been designed to work in the Russian part of the ISS. The module successfully separated from the launcher 580 seconds after lift-off.
Equipped with a host of amenities, the Russian laboratory is 42 feet long and with a maximum diameter of 14 feet, this module will have many modern facilities. Russian space scientists will also be able to do more experiments in this module than before. It will have a separate bed for each of the astronauts. Along with this toilet, oxygen generator and urine filtering system are also installed.
Missed today’s #Nauka launch? Here is the video of this historic event!
— РОСКОСМОС (@roscosmos) July 21, 2021
By the way, this was the 425th launch of the Proton family rockets. pic.twitter.com/48dO8ur3wL
Russia's space agency Roscosmos has confirmed the successful separation of the module from the rocket in a tweet. Roscosmos wrote that at T+9:40 minutes after liftoff, the yacht Multipurpose Laboratory Module separated from the Proton-M carrier rocket in its third stage. The module then begins its 8-day autonomous flight to the ISS.
After 30 minutes of launch, Roscosmos reported that Nauka has successfully deployed its solar panels and antennas. The module will now use its own engines to move forward in its orbit, Russian news agency Tass reported. The connection of this module to the ISS is believed to be fixed on July 29.
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