October 27, 2021

Active preparations continue at the Vostok launch complex of the Baikonur Cosmodrome for the Soyuz-2.1a rocket with Progress MS-18 cargo spacecraft launch under the International Space Station Russian program. On the previous day the Soyuz-2.1a/Progress MS-18 rocket was taken to the launchpad. Roscosmos subsidiaries’ specialists carried out work according to the first launch day schedule.

Today, preparations for Thursday’s launch continue. As part of the launch day two, technological prelaunch preparations are carried out. In the afternoon, the space rocket will undergo general test with the simulation of launch and flight until the separation of the spacecraft in the target orbit.

The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-18 cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch on October 28, 2021 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Launchpad 31. The spacecraft will deliver 470 kg of fuel, 420 liters of drinking water, 40 kg of air and oxygen, 1,509 kg of equipment and materials, medical and sanitary supplies, clothing items, standard rations and fresh food to the ISS.

Progress MS is the Russian unmanned transportation spacecraft. It is part of the Progress family of cargo spacecraft, which were built specifically for servicing orbital stations. It is used to deliver cargoes to the International Space Station, as well as to adjust its orbit. The craft is designed and manufactured by the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.

Progress MS spacecraft has three compartments: cargo compartment (for placing dry cargo and water), instrument compartment and refueling component compartment (for delivering fuel to the station). Length: 7.2 m, maximal diameter: 2.72 m, liftoff mass: about 7.3 t. Can deliver a payload of about 2.6 t.

More from this category:
January 19, 2016

In April 2016 we celebrate the Birthday of manned Cosmonautics. 55 years ago world-famous Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin performed the first ever manned spaceflight in…

full story
December 18, 2013

The preparation works for Proton-M booster launch with Briz-M upper stage and Express-AM5 space device are under way at Baikonur spaceport. Khrunichev Centre and Yuzhny…

full story
June 27, 2016

Baikonur spaceport saw traditional flag raising ceremony taking place at pad #17 in front of  “Cosmonaut” hotel. Soyuz MS main and back-up crew members raised…

full story
December 19, 2018

SPECIAL OFFER – get a 25% DISCOUNT! Don’t miss the greatest spring adventure! Perform zero-g flight aboard GCTC IL-76. Group enrollment for April 01-02 is…

full story
August 20, 2020

The Science module, which is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station in the spring of 2021, has arrived at the Baikonur cosmodrome. It…

full story
April 24, 2019

The “Proton-M” launch vehicle, used to launch the “Yamal-601” satellite in the interests of Gazprom Space Systems, today, on April 24, was transported from the…

full story
December 13, 2013

ISS -37/37 crew performed more than 160 experiments on Russian and American ISS segments during its half a year mission and moreover coped with off-nominal…

full story
June 23, 2016

Proton boosters will be in use at least up to 2025. After that the quantity of launches will be reduced due to the gradual equipment…

full story