The multifunctional space relay system (MSRS) "Loutch" successfully completed its tasks at the launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-18 transport cargo ship (TCS).
After the release of the Progress MS-18 TCS from the radio visibility zone of ground-based communications (11th minute of flight), the transmission of telemetry and command information from the transport spacecraft was carried out by means of MSRS "Loutch" (operator - "Satellite System Gonets" JSC). For these purposes there were used the channels of the MSRS "Loutch" spacecraft of the "Luch-5" series, onboard equipment installed on the spacecraft, and ground infrastructure. The duty shifts of the operator performed the tasks of planning and monitoring the retransmission sessions in the normal mode.
In total, 35 relay sessions were successfully conducted from the launch of Progress into near-Earth orbit until the completion of its docking with the ISS on October 30, 2021 at 04:31 Moscow time. The information was successfully obtained and brought to the end consumers. The planned work of the MSRS "Loutch" with the docked TCS "Progress MS-18" continues further in accordance with the established schedule.
