Altai student sees launch of spacecraft at the Vostochny Cosmodrome

A student from Altai witnessed the launch of a Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Progress MS-22 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Polina Vasina, a 3rd-year student at the Altai State University, described her experience as "unforgettable" and "amazing".

Vasina, who has long been interested in space exploration, won the opportunity to witness the launch as part of the "Space and Youth" educational project.

The launch took place on February 9, 2023, at 08:15 Moscow time. Vasina and a group of other young people watched the launch from a special observation deck.

Vasina said that she was impressed by the power and beauty of the rocket launch.

"It was an unforgettable experience," Vasina said. "The rocket was so powerful, and it was amazing to see it take off into space."

Vasina said that she hopes to one day work in the space industry.

"I have always been interested in space exploration, and seeing the launch of a rocket has made me even more determined to pursue a career in this field," Vasina said.

The Progress MS-22 cargo spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on February 11, 2023.

The spacecraft is carrying 2.5 tons of food, fuel, and other supplies for the station's crew.

The launch of the Progress MS-22 cargo spacecraft is part of Russia's ongoing efforts to maintain a human presence on the International Space Station.

Russia has been a partner in the International Space Station project since its inception in 1998.

The International Space Station is a joint project of five space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).

The station is currently in low Earth orbit, about 250 miles above the Earth's surface.

The station is home to a crew of six astronauts and cosmonauts who conduct scientific research and experiments.

The station has been continuously inhabited since 2000.