MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 09th February, 2019) The launch of Russia's Nauka multipurpose laboratory module (MLM) to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed until the middle of 2020 due to the delay of the module delivery to the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan from the beginning to the end of 2019, a Russian space industry source told Sputnik.
"The repairs of the Nauka module in the Khrunichev [Space Research and Production] Center continue. Its delivery to Baikonur was planned for January-February [of 2019], but now it has been postponed until the end of the year. Accordingly, the launch of the module to the ISS has been postponed from the beginning to mid-2020," the source said.
Nauka construction started in 1995. Initially, it was a ground backup of Zarya, the first ISS module. In 2004, it was decided to cut costs for the Russian segment of the ISS and to convert the backup into a full-fledged flight module. Its launch was scheduled for 2007, but was repeatedly delayed.
Acceptance testing at the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia in 2013 revealed problems in the module's propulsion system, which included a leaking fueling valve that needed to be replaced and contamination, which would require a lengthy cleaning.
The module was subsequently returned to the Krunichev center for repairs.
