Progress MS-13

Summary

Progress MS-13 (Russian: Прогресс МC-13), Russian production No. 443, identified by NASA as Progress 74P, was a Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station.[2] This was the 165th flight of a Progress spacecraft.

Progress MS-13
Progress MS-13 approaches the ISS
NamesProgress 74P
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorRoscosmos
COSPAR ID2019-085A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.44833
Mission duration215 days, 12 hours, 30 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftProgress MS-13 s/n 443
Spacecraft typeProgress-MS
ManufacturerRKK Energia
Launch mass7280 kg
Payload mass2480 kg
Start of mission
Launch date6 December 2019,
09:34:11 UTC
RocketSoyuz-2.1a s/n N15000-034
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31/6
ContractorProgress Rocket Space Centre
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date8 July 2020, 22:05 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.66°
Docking with ISS
Docking portPirs
Docking date9 December 2019,
10:35:11 UTC[1]
Undocking date8 July 2020, 18:22 UTC
Time docked212 days, 7 hours, 46 minutes [2]
Cargo
Mass2480 kg
Pressurised1350 kg
Fuel650 kg
Gaseous50 kg
Water420 kg
Progress ISS Resupply
 

History edit

The Progress-MS is an uncrewed freighter based on the Progress-M featuring improved avionics. This improved variant first launched on 21 December 2015. It has the following improvements:[3][4][5]

  • New external compartment that enables it to deploy satellites. Each compartment can hold up to four launch containers. First time installed on Progress MS-03.
  • Enhanced redundancy thanks to the addition of a backup system of electrical motors for the docking and sealing mechanism.
  • Improved Micrometeoroid (MMOD) protection with additional panels in the cargo compartment.
  • Luch Russian relay satellites link capabilities enable telemetry and control even when not in direct view of ground radio stations.
  • GNSS autonomous navigation enables real time determination of the status vector and orbital parameters dispensing with the need of ground station orbit determination.
  • Real time relative navigation thanks to direct radio data exchange capabilities with the space station.
  • New digital radio that enables enhanced TV camera view for the docking operations.
  • The Ukrainian Chezara Kvant-V on board radio system and antenna/feeder system has been replaced with a Unified Command Telemetry System (UCTS).
  • Replacement of the Kurs A with Kurs NA digital system.

Pre-launch edit

In 2014, the launch was originally scheduled for 16 October 2018, but in September 2019, it was rescheduled to 20 December 2019. This was then moved ahead to 6 December 2019.[2]

Launch edit

Progress MS-13 was launched on 6 December 2019 at 09:34:11 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome, from the Site 31/6.[6]

Docking edit

To avoid docking with the ISS at the same time as SpaceX CRS-19, Progress MS-13 followed a slow three-day rendezvous trajectory rather than the fast-track three hour trajectory used on Progress MS-12. Progress MS-13 docked with the Pirs module at 10:38 UTC on 9 December 2019.[7]

Cargo edit

The Progress MS-13 spacecraft delivered 2480 kg of cargo, with 1350 kg being pressurized and 1130 kg being unpressurized. The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:[2]

  • Hardware for onboard systems: 502 kg (1,107 lb)
  • Medical supplies: 29 kg (64 lb)
  • Personal protective gear: 66 kg (146 lb)
  • Sanitary and hygiene items: 271 kg (597 lb)
  • Repairs and servicing equipment: 9 kg (20 lb)
  • Food: 271 kg (597 lb)
  • Means of crew support: 25 kg (55 lb)
  • Other payloads: 102 kg (225 lb)
  • NASA cargo: 87 kg (192 lb)

Mission edit

On 3 July 2020 at 15:53 UTC, Progress MS-13 fired its engines to raise the International Space Station orbit 1 km for debris collision avoidance (COLA). This was the first COLA burn for International Space Station since 2015. The debris object 27923 (1987-079AG) was predicted to pass within 1 km of the station at 18:28 UTC on 3 July 2020 over the South Atlantic. The object was one of 42 cataloged from the 1996 breakup of a motor from Proton launcher in September 1987 that put three Glonass satellites in orbit.[8]

Undocking and decay edit

According to Roskosmos, the vehicle undocked from the International Space Station on 8 July 2020, at 18:22 UTC. The Russian mission control commanded Progress MS-13 to fire its propulsion system on 8 July 2020, at 21:31 UTC. The maneuver resulted in the reentry of the spacecraft over a region of the Pacific Ocean at 22:05 on 8 July 2020. Eight minutes later, any surviving debris of the spacecraft were projected to hit the surface of the ocean, around 1800 km east of New Zealand.[2]

The departure of Progress MS-13 freed the docking port Pirs for the arrival of the fresh Progress MS-15 cargo ship;[2] Progress MS-15 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 23 July 2020.[citation needed]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Becker, Joachim Wilhelm Josef (3 October 2019). "Expedition 61". SpaceFacts. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Zak, Anatoly (6 December 2019). "Progress MS-13 to re-supply ISS". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. ^ Krebs, Gunter (1 December 2015). "Progress-MS 01-19". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. ^ "NASA Progress MS-13". NSSDCA. NASA. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Zak, Anatoly (1 December 2015). "Progress-MS". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Status - Progress MS-13". NextSpaceflight. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  7. ^ Clark, Stephen (9 December 2019). "Progress docking marks second cargo ship arrival at space station in two days". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  8. ^ McDowell, Jonathan C. (9 July 2020). "Space Report No 780". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 9 July 2020.