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Simply over two weeks after the CRS-33 cargo supply to the Worldwide House Station, one other cargo ship is now flying to humanity’s orbital outpost, this time from the opposite facet of the world.
Progress MS-32, which rolled out to its launch pad on Monday, Sept. 8, flew atop a Soyuz 2.1a rocket from Web site 31/6 at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch occurred on 17:54 UTC on Thursday, Sept. 11, throughout an instantaneous launch window, as is common with ISS missions utilizing this launch car.
The Progress cargo spacecraft, massing round 7,280 kg, will spend roughly 48 hours catching as much as and rendezvousing with the Station. Progress MS-32 is scheduled to dock to the Zvezda module aft port on the Station’s Russian phase, with the docking presently set for 17:27 UTC on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Progress MS-30 conducting a reboost burn whereas docked to Zvezda’s aft docking port. (Credit score: NASA/Johnson House Middle)
Previous to Progress MS-32’s docking, Progress MS-30 undocked from Zvezda’s aft docking port on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and accomplished a damaging reentry into Earth’s ambiance. Earlier than MS-30’s undocking, the Worldwide House Station (ISS) crew loaded the spacecraft with trash; this follow helps preserve the Station from being excessively cluttered with previous tools and different pointless supplies. The Progress spacecraft can carry as much as 2,140 kg of trash for disposal.
The docking, as is common for Progress craft, can be automated, however with a handbook backup accessible to be used if wanted. To that finish, Roscosmos crew members Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky not too long ago arrange a simulator for training using the tele-robotically operated rendezvous unit (TORU) for handbook rendezvous and docking eventualities if the Kurs-NA automated system fails.
The Progress MS-32 spacecraft throughout processing. Notice the crimson covers over the antennae and different tools. (Credit score: Roscosmos)
The Kurs-NA system is a modernized variant of the Kurs automated docking system, which the Soviet and Russian packages have used for many years. The unique Kurs system was initially manufactured in Ukraine. After the Soviet Union fell, the Russian house program sought to develop a system fully in-country.
Kurs-NA requires only one phased array antenna versus the previous system’s use of 4 phased array antennae. The brand new system can also be lighter and makes use of much less energy, with further computerization, whereas being manufactured fully in Russia.
The TORU functionality was final utilized in 2021, when present Station commander, Ryzhikov, used the handbook backup to efficiently dock Progress MS-16 to the ISS after a problem with weak electrical alerts on the Kurs-NA unit over the past 20 m of the spacecraft’s strategy.
Progress MS-32 throughout fueling previous to set up on the Soyuz launch car. (Credit score: RSC Energia)
The Progress-MS spacecraft, the most recent model of the long-serving Progress cargo service, can carry as much as 2,600 kg of provides to the Station. This consists of as much as 1,800 kg of dry cargo, 870 kg of propellant, 420 kg of water, and 50 kg of gases. The dry cargo usually consists of experiments, clothes, meals, and different provides.
Progress spacecraft docked to the Zvezda aft port are additionally usually used for Station reboost and particles avoidance maneuvers. Nevertheless, Cargo Dragon and Cygnus spacecraft can now carry out these duties from the U.S. facet of ISS.
The CRS-33 Cargo Dragon, utilizing a “enhance package” in its unpressurized trunk, carried out a Station reboost check maneuver on Sept. 3 after docking to the Concord module’s ahead port.
Soyuz 2.1a is a three-stage, liquid-fuelled, expendable rocket developed by RKTs Progress and utilized by Roscosmos. Standing 46.3 m tall and 10.3 m vast, Soyuz 2.1a is classed as a medium-lift launch car. The primary stage is comprised of 4 strap-on liquid boosters, every that includes one RD-107A engine. The second stage is the core stage on which the boosters are strapped, that includes one RD-108A engine. Lastly, the third stage sits atop the second (core) stage and makes use of an RD-0110 engine.
The CRS-33 Cargo Dragon previous to docking with ISS. (Credit score: NASA)
Soyuz 2.1a can launch 7,340 kg of payload to low-Earth orbit (LEO) from Baikonur and 5,830 kg of payload to polar orbit from Baikonur. Crewed Soyuz missions to the ISS are additionally launched atop Soyuz 2.1a.
Whereas the astronauts aboard ISS are getting ready to welcome Progress MS-32, one other cargo mission is being ready for launch simply in the future after MS-32’s docking. The Northrop Grumman Cygnus NG-23 spacecraft is scheduled to fly from House Launch Complicated-40 at Cape Canaveral House Power Station on Sunday, Sept. 14, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9.
(Lead picture: The Progress MS-32 and Soyuz 2.1a launch car roll out to the launch pad in Baikonur. Credit score: Roscosmos)
