Progress 4

Summary

Progress 4 (Russian: Прогресс 4), was a Progress cargo spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union in 1978 to resupply the Salyut 6 space station. It used the Progress 7K-TG configuration and was the fourth Progress mission to Salyut 6. It carried supplies aboard Salyut 6, as well as equipment for conducting scientific research, and fuel for adjusting the station's orbit and performing manoeuvres.

Progress 4
A Progress 7K-TG spacecraft
Mission typeSalyut 6 resupply
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1978-090A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.11040 [1]
Mission duration23 days
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftProgress s/n 105
Spacecraft typeProgress 7K-TG
ManufacturerNPO Energia
Launch mass7281 kg
Dry mass7020 kg
Payload mass2436 kg
Dimensions7.48 m in length and
2.72 m in diameter
Start of mission
Launch date3 October 1978, 23:09:30 UTC [1]
RocketSoyuz-U s/n Ye15000-152
Launch siteBaikonur, 1/5
ContractorOKB-1
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date26 October 1978, 16:28 UTC [2]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude191 km
Apogee altitude266 km
Inclination51.66°
Period88.8 minutes
Epoch3 October 1978
Docking with Salyut 6
Docking portAft [3]
Docking date6 October 1978, 01:00:15 UTC
Undocking date24 October 1978, 13:01:52 UTC
Time docked18.5 days
Cargo
Mass2436 kg
Pressurised1230 kg
Fuel705 kg
Gaseous50 kg
Water420 kg
 

Spacecraft edit

Progress 4 was a Progress 7K-TG spacecraft. The fourth of forty three to be launched, it had the serial number 105.[4][5] The Progress 7K-TG spacecraft was the first generation Progress, derived from the Soyuz 7K-T and intended for uncrewed logistics missions to space stations in support of the Salyut programme. On some missions the spacecraft were also used to adjust the orbit of the space station.[6]

The Progress spacecraft had a dry mass of 6,520 kilograms (14,370 lb), which increased to around 7,020 kilograms (15,480 lb) when fully fuelled. It measured 7.48 metres (24.5 ft) in length, and 2.72 metres (8 ft 11 in) in diameter. Each spacecraft could accommodate up to 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) of payload, consisting of dry cargo and propellant. The spacecraft were powered by chemical batteries, and could operate in free flight for up to three days, remaining docked to the station for up to thirty.[6]

Launch edit

Progress 4 launched on 3 October 1978 at 23:09:30 UTC from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. It used a Soyuz-U rocket.[4]

Docking edit

Progress 4 docked with Salyut 6 on 6 October 1978 at 01:00:15 UTC.[7]

Decay edit

It remained in orbit until 26 October 1978, when it was deorbited. The deorbit burn occurred at 16:28 UTC.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Launchlog". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Progress 4". NASA. Retrieved 23 December 2017.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "Cargo spacecraft "Progress-4"". Manned Astronautics figures and facts. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007.
  4. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Progress 1 - 42 (11F615A15, 7K-TG)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  5. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  6. ^ a b Hall, Rex D.; Shayler, David J. (2003). Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft. Springer-Praxis. pp. 239–250. ISBN 1-85233-657-9.
  7. ^ "Salyut 6". Astronautix. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2017.