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The Progress-MS cargo ship series

The latest upgrade of the veteran Russian space freighter and tanker was designated Progress-MS, known inside the industry as Article 11F615A61. It was launched for the first time on December 21, 2015.


Known technical specifications of the Progress-MS spacecraft:

Liftoff mass
7,290 kilograms
Total deliverable cargo, including:
Up to 2,300-2,600* kilograms
  • Dry cargo
Up to 1,700-1,800* kilograms
  • Propellant
Up to 870 kilograms
  • Water
Up to 420 kilograms
  • Gases
Up to 50 kilograms
  • Disposable cargo
Up to 2,140 kilograms
Pressurized cargo module vollume
7 cubic meters
Autonomous flight duration
Up to 30 days
Flight duration when docked to space station
Up to 180 days
Launch vehicle

*As of 2023

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Upgrading Progress

The MS version of Progress became the latest step in the long process of incremental transition to digital avionics onboard Progress and Soyuz spacecraft.

The MS version features an upgraded Kurs-A rendezvous system designated Kurs-NA. Among the exterior components of the Kurs system, the new AO-753A antenna replaced the 2AO-VKA antenna and three AKR-VKA antennas. However a pair of previous-generation 2ASF-M-VKA antennas have been retained. The Kurs-NA promised to improve the reliability and safety of the docking process.

The new flight control system, SUD, onboard Progress-MS, which previously had to rely on ground stations for measuring orbital parameters of the vehicle, was upgraded to take advantage of the GLONASS navigation satellites for the first time. It would allow autonomous trajectory measurements by the ship's computers.

New antennas of the EKTS radio-command system, which replaced an older Kvant-B system, enable ship's real-time contact with mission control via Luch-5 data-relay satellites, expanding the communications range beyond the direct view of Russian ground stations. Using all three available Luch satellites, the transport ship can maintain communications with ground control 83 percent of the time each day, RKK Energia said. Despite availability of relay satellites, direct communications from ground stations would still be used to send commands onboard the spacecraft and receive telemetry. The ship's onboard computers were also pre-programmed to boost its orbit in case of loss of communications with mission control to guarantee at least 12 days in orbit before reentry.

A new digital television system, which replaced an older Klest analog TV, allows transmission between the transport ship and the space station via onboard radio channels.

The new digital backup control unit, BURK, developed at RKK Energia, replaced old avionics on all spacecraft of the MS series.

Progress-MS also received enhanced meteoroid shielding; the new LED-based lighting system, SFOK; upgraded angular velocity sensors, BDUS-3A; while the ship's docking port was equipped with a backup electric driving mechanism.

According to RKK Energia, most of the technical solutions incorporated in the design of the Progress-MS will be also used in the development of the next-generation transport ship, PTK NP.

New launching platform

Beginning with the third cargo ship in the MS series (No. 433), each Progress-MS spacecraft was expected to carry up to four containers for launching up to 24 small satellites known as CubeSats. Each mini-spacecraft was to have a size of 10 centimeters.

approach

Progress MS-15 approaches the ISS in July 2020.


A complete list of launches within the Progress MS series (11F615A61):

 
Year
Launch date
Time of launch
Spacecraft
ISS mission
Launch vehicle
Launch site
Launch complex
Launch pad
Status
1
Dec. 21
11:44:39.465 Moscow Time
62P
6
Success
2
March 31
19:23:57.351 Moscow Time
63P
6
Success
3 2016 July 17
00:41:46 Moscow Time
64P Soyuz-U
6
Success
4 2016 Dec. 1
17:51:52.474 Moscow Time
65P Soyuz-U 5 Failure
5
Feb. 22
08:58:33 Moscow Time
66P
5
Success
6 2017 June 14
12:20:13.120 Moscow Time
67P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
7 2017 Oct. 14
11:46:53.478 Moscow Time
68P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
8 2018 Feb. 13
11:13:33.233 Moscow Time
69P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
9 2018 July 10
00:51:34.452 Moscow Time
70P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
10 2018 Nov. 16
21:14 Moscow Time
71P
5
Success
11 2019 April 4
17:22:26 Moscow Time
72P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
12 2019 July 31
15:10:46.153 Moscow Time
73P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
13 2019 Dec. 6
12:34:11 Moscow Time
74P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
14 2020 April 25
04:51:41 .291 Moscow Time
75P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
15 2020 July 23
17:26:22 Moscow Time
76P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
16 2021 Feb. 15
07:45:06.310 Moscow Time
77P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
17 2021 June 30
02:27:20.324 Moscow Time
78P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
18 2021 Oct. 28
03:00:32 Moscow Time
79P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
19 2022 Feb. 15
07:25:40 Moscow Time
Progress MS-19 No. 449 80P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
20 2022 June 3
12:32:54 Moscow Time
Progress MS-20 No. 450 81P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
21 2022 Oct. 26
03:20 Moscow Time
Progress MS-21 No. 451 82P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
22 2023 Feb. 9
09:15:36 Moscow Time
Progress MS-22 No. 452 83P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
23 2023 May 24
15:56:07.463 Moscow Time
Progress MS-23 No. 453 84P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
24 2023 Aug. 23
04:08:10.412 Moscow Time
Progress MS-24 No. 454 85P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
25 2023 Dec. 1
12:25:11.703 Moscow Time
Progress MS-25 No. 455 86P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success
26 2024 Feb. 15
06:25:05.527 Moscow Time
Progress MS-26 No. 456 87P Soyuz-2-1a Baikonur 31 6 Success

 

 

 

The article and photography by Anatoly Zak; Last update: March 7, 2024

Page editor: Alain Chabot; Last edit: December 22, 2015

All rights reserved

insider content

 

arrival

The first Progress-MS unloaded in Baikonur on Aug. 10, 2015. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


hatch

Cosmonaut Oleg Artemiev inspects the cargo section of the Progress MS-09 spacecraft on March 16, 2018. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


air

Russian cosmonauts prepare to check air quality inside the cargo section of the Progress MS-09 spacecraft after its arrival at ISS in July 2018. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


cargo

A look inside the cargo section of the Progress MS-09 after its arrival at ISS in July 2018. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


approach

Progress MS-10 approaches ISS on Nov. 18, 2018. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA