Russia on Saturday moved the planned launch of a manned spacecraft called Soyuz MS-02. The launch of the ship, which was scheduled for Septemeber 23, was reportedly canceled due to "technical reasons."

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The Russian space agency (Roscosmos) announced the cancellation of the launch after conducting tests on the Baikonur cosmodrome.

"The date of the space launch will be announced later," Roscosmos said.

The space crew was in the final stage of training for the launch, the agency said in a statement. No new date has been given for the launch of the spacecraft. American astronaut Shane Kimbrough and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Andrei Borisenko make up the crew that was set to leave for the International Space Station (ISS).

The Russian Baikonur launchpad in Kazakhstan had been undergoing preparations for the launch. Despite Roscosmos' announcement of the cancellation of the scheduled flight, NASA is still flagging the launch this Friday.

The Soyuz crewed spacecraft is operated by Russian Federation. In April 2016, it successfully completed its first sub-orbital spaceflights.

The Soyuz's five-month mission was to be started following the safe return of the manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20M to Earth on Sept. 7. The crew of cosmonauts including Roscosmos' Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka as well as NASA astronaut Jeffrey William landed in Kazakhstan. Ever since this expedition (Expedition 48) space enthusiasts have been guessing the next batch of astronauts.

A statement by the Russian space agency revealed the named of those who will be taking over the ISS for Expedition 49. The current crew on the space station includes Russian commander Anatoly Ivanishin, Japanese flight engineer Takuya Onishi and American astronaut Kathleen Rubins. They will continue their work until the arrival of the next crew on the ISS.