On July 26, 2021 at 10:55 UTC the link of the “Progress MS-16” unmanned supply spacecraft and the Russian “Pirs” module was undocked from the International Space Station. Wrapping up nearly 20 years of service as a docking port and airlock, the Russian “Pirs” module departed the International Space Station under tow from the “Progress MS-16” supply spacecraft and headed for a destructive re-entry in Earth’s atmosphere, clearing the way for arrival of the Russian “Nauka” module. The “Pirs”(meaning "pier") docking module was launched on 14 September 2001, and was located on the Zvezda module of the station. It provided the ISS with one docking port for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, and allowed egress and ingress for spacewalks by cosmonauts using Russian Orlan space suits. Attachments: |