After holding everyone in suspense, the new Russian module Nauka is arriving on the International Space Station and also brings with it the European robotic arm ERA (European Robotic Arm).
After launching on 21 July from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the Nauka module had experienced a propulsion problem, which was then overcome, and is now preparing to reach the orbital station.
The appointment for the docking is at 15:25 (Italian time) and ANSA Scienza broadcasts the live streaming with NASA TV starting at 14:30.
Officially known as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), Nauka is the largest space laboratory ever put into orbit by Russia and will integrate with the Space Station by docking with the Russian module Zvezda, where the Pirs module was docked a few days ago. , removed last July 25 and burned in the impact with the earth's atmosphere at the end of a controlled reentry.
Integrated in Nauka is the robotic arm made by the European Space Agency (ESA) which will be the first robot capable of moving around Russian modules and capable of handling components up to 8,000 kilos in weight with an accuracy of 5 millimeters as well as moving astronauts engaged in extravehicular activities (EVA).
After having registered problems with the main propulsion, Nauka still managed to gain altitude and position itself in the right trajectory, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced that the module has completed the correction maneuvers will soon begin the automated approach maneuvers to dock to the Space Station.