A few hours ago, the Progress M-29M space cargo ship docked with the Zvezda module of the International Space Station. The spacecraft blasted off yesterday atop a Soyuz U rocket from the Baikonur base in Kazakhstan in its resupply mission also referred to as Progress 61. It was a direct berthing because the Russian spacecraft don’t need to be captured by the Station’s robotic arm

The Progress space cargo ship used the fast track of approximately six hours that has become normal in recent years. However, in recent months this trajectory wasn’t exploited because the International Space Station was moved for some time to avoid potentially dangerous debris. The fast track requires very precise maneuvers not compatible with that position while now they can use it again.

The Progress M-29M spacecraft is carrying over 3 tonnes of cargo for the International Space Station, including food, oxygen, about 400 kg (almost 930 lbs) of water, about 1.5 tons (about 3,400 lbs) of various scientific experiments and equipment and nearly 900 kg (about 1,940 lbs) of propellant. For the moment, the Japanese HTV and the Russian Progress are the only active space cargo ships so their missions are more vital than ever for the Station.

Today the crew will proceed with the opening of the hatch and procedures to make the Progress M-29M an appendix of the International Space Station. At that point, they’ll start the unloading operations, which should continue for the entire week.

The mission of the Progress M-29M spacecraft is substantially accomplished. In fact, it’s unable to return to Earth so it will be filled with hardware that’s failed or otherwise become unusable and assorted junk and will be sent to disintegrate reentering the atmosphere. This mission epilogue will take place in about two months.

The Progress M-29M spacecraft is supposed to be the last in the Progress M series. Already in December 2015 the new version of this cargo spacecraft, called Progress MS, is scheduled to enter service. It’s equipped with various improvements that include new, more sophisticated, communication systems, more protections against external micrometeorite impacts and a new external compartment that allows satellite deployment.

[ad name=”AmazonScience”]