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The Soyuz programme is the longest operational human spacecraft programme in the history of space exploration, with the first-ever crewed flight into space taking place back in April 23 1967.
The spacecraft generally weighs seven tonnes and measure 7.2 metres in length and 2.7 metres in diameter. They open solar panels open after launching and can carry up to three astronauts at a time, according to the European Space Agency’s website.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is also set to splash down today after it undocked from the ISS on Monday. If it all goes according to plan, the robotic space cargo will splash down off the coast of Florida.
It was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on November 26, bringing with it around 7,700 pounds (3,500 kilograms) of cargo to the ISS. The package included two new International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), which NASA astronauts deployed during two spacewalks.
A number of scientific experiments were also being ferried over by the spacecraft. The mission was given the name CRS-26 as it was the 26th robotic resupply flight to the ISS piloted by SpaceX. One experiment will involve the growing of dwarf cherry tomatoes on the orbiting lab to study off-Earth food production.
The Soyuz programme is the longest operational human spacecraft programme in the history of space exploration, with the first-ever crewed flight into space taking place back in April 23 1967.
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