Russia’s Roscosmos space agency at its website informs of the cancellation of media attendance at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to cover Soyuz MS-16 crewed spacecraft launch. The restrictions are introduced because of the complications to the epidemiological situation and the decisions of the Kazakhstan Republic authorities to introduce the state of emergency as part of the measures to prevent spreading of the new coronavirus.
The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Soyuz MS-16 crewed vehicle is to launch on April 9, 2020 as per the previously adopted schedule from the launchpad No 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The prime crew of the mission includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, as well as NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy. The mission backup crew are Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrei Babkin and NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen.
To cover the launch, Roscosmos TV will organize a live broadcast from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at Roscosmos official website, as well as on YouTube, VK and Trikolor TV platform.