OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2014. Thanks to Kuznetsov engines, the Soyuz-U launch vehicle was able to successfully blast off for the International Space Station. It carried the Progress M-22M cargo resupply ship containing goldfish and a microsatellite for communication with extraterrestrial civilizations.

The resupply ship carried goldfish, mosquito larvae and earthworms to the ISS for the Russo-Japanese Aquarium-AQH experiment, which will be conducted in the Japanese Kibo module inside the JAXA AquaticHabitat (AQH) aquarium. According to "Delovoy kvartal," which in turn cited the Russian Federal Space Agency, the experiment plans to investigate the sustainability of closed ecosystems, and it will focus in particular on how the microgravity of space affects plants, fish and animals.

The hi-tech, hermetically sealed AQH aquarium was created to operate normally in microgravity while requiring minimal intervention and care on the part of the astronauts. Even the fish are fed automatically.
 
In addition, the Chaski microsatellite was also delivered to the ISS, and it will broadcast messages from children to distant extraterrestrial civilizations.

Already in the spring of this year astronauts will manually launch the microsatellite into orbit while working on board the ISS.

The microsatellite was created by students in Kursk from the South-West State University with help from Peruvian specialists.

A total of around 2.5 tons of supplies were delivered to the station, including fuel, scientific equipment, oxygen, water, clothing and food for astronauts as well as cargo for the U.S. segment of the ISS.

Kuznetsov's engines, which were installed on the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, once again performed excellently.

Since 1958 Kuznetsov has been the only Russian manufacturer of the RD-107/RD-108 (currently in the RD-107A/RD-108A variants) propulsion engines for the 1st and 2nd stage Soyuz launch vehicles manufactured by SRPSC TsSKB-Progress.

NPO Energomash is the designer of the engines. The company's engines are used in all types of Soyuz spacecraft and KK freight type Progress spacecraft.  Last year marked the 55th anniversary of when the first rocket engine entered production.

Kuznetsov is one of the largest aviation and space propulsion engineering companies. It is part of United Engine Corporation.

The United Engine Corporation  is a subsidiary of the United Industrial Corporation OBORONPROM. UEC includes more than 85% of the leading companies specializing in the design, mass production and servicing of gas turbine equipment, and it also includes key aggregators in the industry. One of the priority areas of activity is the implementation of comprehensive programs for the development of industry enterprises through the introduction of new technologies that meet international standards.