Russia announced this Wednesday that the Soyuz capsule, currently attached to the International Space Station (ISS) and damaged after being hit by a small meteorite, will return to Earth without a crew.

"Experts have concluded that the Soyuz MS-22 capsule should return to Earth without a crew," the Russian space agency Roscosmos informed.

They also added that on February 20, they will send Soyuz MS-23 to the ISS to replace Soyuz MS-22.

A Soyuz MS-22 coolant leak was spotted last month.

Former cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov, who is Roscosmos' executive director of manned space programs, said the problem may have been caused by a micrometeorite hitting one of its radiators.

Roscosmos is convening a meeting at the end of December regarding the problem with the Soyuz MS-22 capsule that landed on the ISS

Roscosmos