Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky has been given official permission to skip work and celebrate Cosmonaut Day on the International Space Station (ISS).
Novitsky's day-off is still full of official engagements, including a video conference with Mission Control and a pre-arranged Skype call to children at Russia's Artek summer camp, the TASS news agency reported.
Novitsky will be the only Russian on board the ISS during the holiday. His fellow cosmonauts Andrei Borisenko and Sergei Ryzhikov are already scheduled to return to Earth on April 10. Novitsky will remain onboard with U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson and France's Tom Peske.
Two new crew members — Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and America's Jack Fisher —are set to join the ISS on April 20.
Russia's Cosmonaut Day is celebrated annually on April 12.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
