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Progress MS-15

Summary

Progress MS-15
Progress MS-15 undocking (cropped).jpg
Progress MS-15 seen after undocking from the ISS
NamesProgress 76P
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorRoscosmos
COSPAR ID2020-050A
SATCAT no.45937
Mission duration272 days, 34 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftProgress MS-15
Spacecraft typeProgress MS
ManufacturerEnergia
Launch mass7000 kg
Payload mass2540 kg
Start of mission
Launch date23 July 2020, 14:26:21 UTC [1][2][3]
RocketSoyuz-2.1a
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 31
ContractorProgress Rocket Space Centre
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date9 February 2021, 09:13 UTC [4]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.65°
Docking with ISS
Docking portPirs nadir
Docking date23 July 2020, 17:45 UTC
Undocking date9 February 2021, 05:21 UTC
Time docked200 days, 11 hours, 36 minutes
Cargo
Mass2540 kg
Pressurised2540 kg
Fuel620 kg
Gaseous46 kg (oxygen)
Water420 kg
Progress ISS Resupply
 

Progress MS-15 (Russian: Прогресс МC-15), Russian production No. 444, identified by NASA as Progress 76P, was a Progress spacecraft launched by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). This was the 167th flight of a Progress spacecraft.[5]

History

The Progress-MS is a uncrewed freighter based on the Progress-M featuring improved avionics. This improved variant first launched on 21 December 2015. It has the following improvements:[5][6][7]

  • 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.

Launch

A Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle was used to launch Progress MS-15 to the International Space Station. Progress MS-15 was launched at 14:26:21 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 on a fast-track trajectory. Following a nominal launch, Progress MS-15 docked with the Pirs port on the ISS two orbits later at 17:45:00 UTC.[3][8]

Docking

Around 3 hours 20 minutes after the launch, Progress MS-15 successfully docked automatically at the nadir port of the Pirs module at 17:45:00 UTC,[3][8][9] where it remained until February 2021.[4] After its mission was completed, Progress MS-15 departed and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere for destruction over the South Pacific Ocean.[4]

Cargo

The Progress MS-15 spacecraft delivered 2,540 kg (5,600 lb) of cargo, with 1,430 kg (3,150 lb) of this being dry cargo. The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:[1]

  • Dry cargo: 1,430 kg (3,150 lb)
  • Fuel: 620 kg (1,370 lb)
  • Oxygen: 46 kg (101 lb)
  • Water: 420 kg (930 lb)

Undocking and decay

The Progress MS-15 remained docked at the station through on 9 February 2021, when it departed with trash and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere for destruction over the South Pacific Ocean.[4] The Pirs module, originally scheduled to be removed and discarded at the end of this mission,[10][11] will stay attached to the station until the arrival of the Nauka module.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome". Roscosmos. 23 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Navin, Joseph; Gebhardt, Chris (23 July 2020). "Progress MS-15 arrives at Station with eventful automated docking". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Прогресс МС-15 завершил свой полет" [Progress MS-15 completes its flight] (in Russian). Roscosmos. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter (1 December 2015). "Progress-MS 01-19". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Progress MS-15 2020-050A". NASA. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Zak, Anatoly. "Progress-MS". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b Clark, Stephen (23 July 2020). "Progress supply ship docks with space station after last-minute misalignment". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. ^ Zak, Anatoly (23 July 2020). "Progress MS-15 arrives at ISS". RussianSpaceWeb.com.
  10. ^ Zak, Anatoly (22 March 2017). "Integrating the MLM Nauka with ISS". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  11. ^ Atkinson, Ian (19 August 2020). "Russia's Nauka Arrives Baikonur for final launch preparations". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.