Summary

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:^[4][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 launched the Progress MS-17 to the International Space Station from Baikonur Site 31 on 29 June 2021.^[3] Progress MS-17 will automatically dock to Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) of ISS, on 2 July 2021, where it is expected to remain until late 2021.

Expansion of Russian Orbital Segment

Computer generated image of the Russian Orbital Segment after Nauka docking.

On 3 February 2021, the State Commission for Testing of the Piloted Space Systems, chaired by Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin, approved the latest ISS schedule for 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.^[2]

Due to the air leak discovered in the PrK chamber at the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module (SM), Roscosmos moved the docking destination for the Progress MS-17 cargo ship to the Poisk Module, MIM2. After 147 days, Progress MS-17 would be then undock and re-docked to the nadir (Earth-facing) port of the newly arrived Nauka at the end of October 2021.

That move will allow Roscosmos to prepare for the next step in the expansion of the Russian Orbital Segment, this time with the Prichal module. Upon the launch of Prichal (Progress M-UM), currently scheduled for 24 November 2021, the Progress MS-17 will be undocked from Nauka's nadir port, carrying with it a special extension on Nauka's docking mechanism, which was custom-designed for cargo ships and crew vehicles. As a result, the Prichal module with its active hybrid docking port will then be able to dock to the reconfigured port on Nauka on 24 November 2021. This will provide a wider module passageway than was available through the adapter, which will be discarded with Progress MS-17.

If everything goes according to the August 2020 plan, Progress MS-17 will log 179 days in space.^[8]

Cargo

The Progress MS-17 spacecraft is loaded with 2,439 kg (5,377 lb) of cargo, with 1,509 kg (3,327 lb) of this being dry cargo.^[1]

• Dry cargo: 1,509 kg (3,327 lb)
• Fuel: 470 kg (1,040 lb)
• Oxygen: 40.5 kg (89 lb)
• Water: 420 kg (930 lb)

Undocking and decay

The Progress MS-17 is scheduled to remain docked at the station through 24 November 2021, when it will depart with trash and a docking adapter on Nauka nadir port for arrival of Progress M-UM carrying the Prichal module with it, being launched a day after, thereby re-entering the Earth's atmosphere for destruction over the South Pacific Ocean.

See also

• Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station

References