Baikonur starts preparation works for Manned Launch Program 2014

According to the press service of the Russian Space Agency in the assembly and testing site of 254 platform the specialists of the Russian Baikonur Space Corporation "Energia" named after Korolev and "Yuzhniy" Space Center have performed reactivation of the manned spacecraft "Soyuz TMA-12M" and the space truck "Progress M-22M" and started to check the electrical systems of the ships.

The first launch from Baikonur under the manned program is scheduled for February 5. On March 26, 2014 it is planned to launch the manned spacecraft "Soyuz TMA-12M" to the International Space Station.

Four launches are planned to be carried out within February-March 2014. In addition to the above mentioned spacecraft launches Baikonur plans to launch two "Proton-M" rockets: with the Turkish spacecraft "Turksat - 4A" on February 15, 2014 and with the Russian communication satellites "Express AT1" and "Express AT2" on March 15, 2014.