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Progress-M 1 - 13, 15 - 37, 39 - 67 (11F615A55, 7KTGM)

Progress-M 48 [NASA]

An automated version of Soyuz, known as Progress-M, was developed to carry propellant and cargo to the Salyut and Mir space stations and it will serve the same purpose for the International Space Station (ISS). Although the Mir and ISS have their own propulsion systems, generally it is the Progress vehicle which will perform periodic reboosting maneuvers to maintain the Space Station orbital altitude. The Progress is approximately the same size as the Soyuz but it has a slightly higher mass at launch of approximately 7150 kg. The Progress spacecraft docks automatically to the space station and there is also a backup remote control docking system. The Progress is composed of three modules: Cargo Module, Refueling Module, and Instrument-Service Module.

The Progress cargo module is similar in construction to the Soyuz orbital module. The cargo module carries pressurized cargo which the crew transfers into the station through the docking hatch. After the cargo module is unloaded, trash, unwanted equipment, and waste water can be loaded into the Progress for disposal when the spacecraft leaves the Station.

In place of the Soyuz descent module, the Progress has a module containing propellant tanks. The Progress is able to transfer propellant into the space station propulsion system through fluid connectors in the docking ring. The propellant in the refueling module can also be used by the thrusters on the Progress vehicle for controlling and re-boosting the Station. The Progress M has four propellant tanks (two each for fuel and oxidizer) and two water tanks. The Progress M1 will have eight propellant tanks and no water tanks. In the Progress M1, water will be delivered in separate containers carried in the cargo module.

The Progress instrument-service module is similar to the module on Soyuz but the pressurized instrument section is twice as long and contains additional avionics equipment. The larger instrument section carries avionics which would be contained in the descent module in the case of the Soyuz.

A typical Progress mission is similar to a Soyuz mission. The spacecraft is launched by the same launch vehicle inside a similar shroud, however there is no launch escape rocket on the shroud since the spacecraft carries no crew. The Progress spends about two days performing the rendezvous process and docks automatically to the Space Station.

Propellant is transferred to the Station tanks through connecting lines in the docking ring The crew unloads cargo from the cargo module and can transfer water manually from the Progress to the Station. When the Progress delivers air or oxygen, it is released directly into the shared atmosphere of the Space Station and Progress vehicle. There are controls in the cargo module for releasing air or oxygen and for transferring water.

While the Progress is docked to the Station it uses its propellant and thrusters to perform Station reboost maneuvers. Trash is loaded into the cargo module when the Progress has completed its mission and is ready to leave the Station. Progress vehicles normally remain at the Station for two to three months.

After separation, the Progress spacecraft performs a deorbit maneuver and is destroyed as it enters the atmosphere. Sometimes a small ballistic capsule is placed within the top hatch of the cargo module and it is ejected during entry. The capsule is equipped with a heatshield and parachute and is used to return small amounts of payload from the Station.

The Progress payload includes cargo in the pressurized cargo module and propellant in the refueling module. There will usually be some excess propellant in the propulsion system tanks in the ISM which can also be used by the Station.

The Progress M carries following cargo to a total ammount of 2350 kg

  • Maximum Pressurized Cargo: 1800 kg
  • Cargo Volume 6.6 m3
  • Maximum Water 420 kg
  • Maximum Air or Oxygen: 50 kg
  • Maximum Refueling Module Propellant: 850 kg
  • ISM Propellant Surplus available to Station: 250 kg
  • Trash Disposal in Cargo Module: up to 1600 kg
  • Waste Water 400 kg

The relative amounts of pressurized cargo, refueling propellant, air, and water will vary within the constraints of the total payload limit. For example, if the maximum amount of propellant is carried then the amount of pressurized cargo will be less than the maximum amount.

Two units were modified to carry the VDU thruster modules to the space station Mir (Progress-M 14 and 38).

Nation: USSR / Russia
Type / Application: Cargo
Operator: RKK → RAKA
Contractors:
Equipment:
Configuration:
Propulsion: KTDU-80 (S5.80)
Power: 2 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime:
Mass: 7250 kg
Orbit: 400 km × 400 km, 51.6° (typical)
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Progress-M (№201) 1989-066A 23.08.1989 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 2 (№202) 1989-099A 20.12.1989 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 3 (№203) 1990-020A 28.02.1990 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 4 (№204) 1990-072A 15.08.1990 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 5 (№206) 1990-085A 27.09.1990 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2 with VBK-Raduga 1
Progress-M 6 (№205) 1991-002A 14.01.1991 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 7 (№208) 1991-020A 19.03.1991 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2 with VBK-Raduga 2
Progress-M 8 (№207) 1991-038A 30.05.1991 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2 with MAK 1, Naduvaniy gazovoy ballon
Progress-M 9 (№210) 1991-057A 20.08.1991 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2 with VBK-Raduga 3
Progress-M 10 (№211) 1991-073A 17.10.1991 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2 with VBK-Raduga 4
Progress-M 11 (№212) 1992-004A 25.01.1992 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 12 (№213) 1992-022A 19.04.1992 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2 with VBK-Raduga 5
Progress-M 13 (№214) 1992-035A 30.06.1992 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 15 & Znamya 2 (№215) 1992-071A 27.10.1992 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U2 with MAK 2
Progress-M 16 (№216) 1993-012A 21.02.1993 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 17 (№217) 1993-019A 31.03.1993 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 18 (№218) 1993-034A 22.05.1993 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2 with VBK-Raduga 7
Progress-M 19 (№219) 1993-052A 10.08.1993 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with VBK-Raduga 8
Progress-M 20 (№220) 1993-064A 11.10.1993 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with VBK-Raduga 9
Progress-M 21 (№221) 1994-005A 28.01.1994 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 22 (№222) 1994-019A 22.03.1994 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with VBK-Raduga 10
Progress-M 23 (№223) 1994-031A 22.05.1994 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U2
Progress-M 24 (№224) 1994-052A 25.08.1994 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 25 (№225) 1994-075A 11.11.1994 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 26 (№226) 1995-005A 15.02.1995 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 27 (№227) 1995-020A 09.04.1995 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with GFZ 1
Progress-M 28 (№228) 1995-036A 20.07.1995 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 29 (№229) 1995-053A 08.10.1995 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 30 (№230) 1995-070A 18.12.1995 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 31 (№231) 1996-028A 05.05.1996 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 32 (№232) 1996-043A 31.07.1996 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 33 (№233) 1996-066A 19.11.1996 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 34 (№234) 1997-014A 06.04.1997 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 35 (№235) 1997-033A 05.07.1997 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 36 (№237) 1997-058A 05.10.1997 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with Inspector 1, Sputnik 40 (RS 17a), Sputnik 40-2 (RS 17b)
Progress-M 37 (№236) 1997-081A 20.12.1997 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 39 (№238) 1998-031A 14.05.1998 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 40 & Znamya 2.5 (№239) 1998-062A 25.10.1998 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with Sputnik 41 (RS 18)
Progress-M 41 (№241) 1999-015A 02.04.1999 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with Sputnik 99 (RS 19)
Progress-M 42 (№242) 1999-038A 16.07.1999 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with Reflektor
Progress-M 43 (№243) 2000-064A 16.10.2000 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 44 (№244) 2001-008A 26.02.2001 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 45 (№245) 2001-036A 21.08.2001 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 46 (№246) 2002-033A 26.06.2002 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 47 (№247) 2003-006A 02.02.2003 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 48 (№248) 2003-039A 29.08.2003 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 49 (№249) 2004-019A 25.05.2004 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 50 (№350) 2004-032A 11.08.2004 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 51 (№351) 2004-051A 23.12.2004 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 52 (№352) 2005-007A 28.02.2005 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with TNS 0
Progress-M 53 (№353) 2005-021A 16.06.2005 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 54 (№354) 2005-035A 08.09.2005 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U with RadioSkaf 1
Progress-M 55 (№355) 2005-047A 21.12.2005 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 56 (№356) 2006-013A 24.04.2006 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 57 (№357) 2006-025A 24.06.2006 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 58 (№358) 2006-045A 23.10.2006 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 59 (№359) 2007-002A 18.01.2007 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 60 (№360) 2007-017A 12.05.2007 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 61 (№361) 2007-033A 02.08.2007 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 62 (№362) 2007-064A 23.12.2007 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 63 (№363) 2008-004A 05.02.2008 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 64 (№364) 2008-023A 14.05.2008 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 65 (№365) 2008-043A 10.09.2008 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 66 (№366) 2009-006A 10.02.2009 Ba LC-31/6 Soyuz-U
Progress-M 67 (№367) 2009-040A 24.07.2009 Ba LC-1/5 Soyuz-U

References:

  • NASA website

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