JSC Gonets Satellite System (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) has successfully completed the tasks of the targeted use of the Multifunctional Space Relay System (MSRS) Luch during the launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Soyuz MS-23 manned transport vehicle (MTV).
On February 24, at 03:24:29 Moscow time, a successful launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Soyuz MS-23 transport manned spacecraft took place from the Baikonur cosmodrome, with the aim of further docking with the International Space Station (ISS), which was performed in unmanned mode. On February 26, at 03:58:00 Moscow time, the ship docked to the Russian segment of the ISS (RS ISS).
During the launch of the vehicle, the relay channels of the MSRS "Luch" were used, the operator of which is JSC "Gonets Satellite System". After the Soyuz MS-23 manned spacecraft left the radio visibility zone of ground facilities, the Luch relay system transmitted telemetric information from the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft to the Flight Control Center (FCC) of the RS ISS, as well as issuing control commands to the ship.
Currently, the Luch system continues to perform the complex task of providing the RS ISS crew with a broadband information transmission channel with the possibility of voice and video communication, as well as data transmission in accordance with the established work program. All 3 spacecraft of the system are involved in the organization of the channel: "Luch-5A", "Luch-5B", "Luch-5B", equipment installed on the RS ISS, and means of a ground-based relay support complex.
