News

Unmanned logistics spacecraft Progress M-26M is in orbit

February 17, 2015

At 14:00:17 Moscow Time, logistics spacecraft Progress M-26M was launched from the Baikonur launch site using Soyuz-U launch vehicle.

The purpose of the launch is to support further in-orbit operation of the International Space Station (ISS) in accordance with Russian commitments under that project.

The main objective of the mission is to deliver to the Space Station about 2.4 metric tons of various cargoes that are needed to continue the ISS mission in manned mode and provide living and working conditions for the crew.

The spacecraft was put into a parking low-Earth orbit with the following parameters: 51.65њ inclination , 192,70 km minimal altitude, 246,30 km maximum altitude, 88.58 minutes orbital period.

The onboard systems of the spacecraft operate normally.

The operations at the launch site to process and launch the spacecraft were conducted under the supervision of the State Commission and the Technical Management for the flight testing of manned space systems.

According to the telemetry data and reports from the crew of the ISS Expedition 42, the space station systems function normally.

The docking of the logistics spacecraft with the space station is scheduled for February 17, at 19:59 Moscow Time.

In its compartments, the spacecraft carries into orbit supplies of propellant, oxygen, air, water, food rations, including natural form foods, hardware to support the operation of the station systems and equipment, hardware for scientific research and experiments, additional hardware for the Russian Segment modules, as well as packages for the ISS crew.

Currently working in orbit under the ISS program are: Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutiyaev, Elena Serova, Anton Shkaplerov, US astronauts Barry Wilmore and Terry Virts, European astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

 

RSC Energia - is the leader in the Russian rocket and space industry, and the prime contractor for manned space programs and systems. It also conducts work on the development of unmanned space and rocket systems (launch vehicles and orbital transfer vehicles), and high-technology systems and products for various non-space applications. The President of RSC Energia is V.L. Solntsev.