At the Baikonur Cosmodrome RSC Energia specialists continue scheduled processing of the Progress MS-16 cargo spacecraft for the launch under the program of the 77th re-supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Upon completion of the filling operations, the spacecraft was installed into the dynamic test bench of Site No. 254 integration and test facility for the final pre-launch processing and stowing of fresh products and onboard data files into the cargo compartment.

Progress MS-16 is to deliver to the ISS 600 kg of resupply propellant, 420 liters of potable water and 40.5 kg of compressed gases with additional nitrogen supplies. The cargo includes about 1400 kg of various equipment and materials: hardware for onboard control and life support systems, kits for space experiments, medical monitoring and sanitary and hygienic items, clothes, standard food ratios and fresh products for the current expedition crewmembers. In addition, the cargo compartment accommodates a repair and recovery assembly consisting of a set of reinforcing adhesive cover plates for temporary sealing of the defects detected in the ISS Zvezda Service Module transfer chamber hull.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle carrying Progress MS-16 is scheduled for February 2021 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.