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Progress M-16M Mission Updates
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Progress M-16M departs the Space Station, headed for Re-Entry
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February 9, 2013
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UPDATE: Progress M-16M has re-entered Earth's atmosphere as planned, successfully ending its ISS resupply mission.
*File Image* - Photo: NASA
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Progress M-16M, 48P in the US numbering system, has departed the International Space Station on Saturday, February 9, 2013, performing a nominal undocking from the Pirs module to begin a very short free flight.
Progress M-16M was launched back on August 1, 2012 and performed a 4-Orbit rendezvous with the Space Station. The mission delivered a total of 2,639 Kilograms of Cargo to the Station. This cargo included 1,242 Kilograms of dry cargo delivered via the vehicle's cargo carrier and 680 Kilograms of Propellants that were transferred to the Space Station's tanks. In addition, 420 Kilograms of water and 47 Kilograms of compressed gases (28kg Oxygen and 19kg air) were delivered to ISS. Water is used for Oxygen generation and gases to repressurize the Station’s interior. The Dry Cargo included 230 Kilograms of food for the US Segment, 359 Kilograms of Russian food plus fresh food, 135 Kilograms of Crew Supplies such as clothes and personal items, 127 Kilograms of equipment for the sanitary facilities of ISS and 23 Kilograms of Science Hardware. Also part of the dry cargo were supplies for the individual Russian Modules needed for maintenance and utilization. |
Over the course of its mission, the supplies were transferred to ISS and Progress M-16M was loaded with trash and no-longer-needed items for disposal.
This week, the Russian crew members completed final cargo transfers and gas repressurizations before closing out the vehicle in preparation for undocking. They inspected the hatch seal of the Progress and the Pirs Module before removing hand rails and installing the Progress Docking Mechanism. On Friday, the Progress hatch was closed and the crew members aboard ISS performed the nominal leak checks. Also on Friday, the Space Station performed a re-orientation maneuver to achieve the proper attitude to support the undocking.
Physical Separation occurred on Saturday at 13:15:27 UTC. Progress M-16M was pushed away from ISS by the springs of the docking system and slowly departed the station. Two minutes after undocking, Progress M-16M conducted a short 0.6-m/s departure burn to rapidly leave the vicinity of the station and quickly reach a safe distance to ISS for the deorbit burn.
At about 16:19 UTC, when the Progress is at a safe distance to ISS, it will fire its Main Propulsion System to perform the deorbit burn, placing it on a trajectory to intercept Earth’s atmosphere for a destructive Re-Entry over the Pacific Ocean. The burn will be 3 minutes and 27 seconds in duration and slow the vehicle down by 103m/s. Re-Entry will take place at 16:55 UTC. Any surviving fragments will impact away from populated land masses.
This week, the Russian crew members completed final cargo transfers and gas repressurizations before closing out the vehicle in preparation for undocking. They inspected the hatch seal of the Progress and the Pirs Module before removing hand rails and installing the Progress Docking Mechanism. On Friday, the Progress hatch was closed and the crew members aboard ISS performed the nominal leak checks. Also on Friday, the Space Station performed a re-orientation maneuver to achieve the proper attitude to support the undocking.
Physical Separation occurred on Saturday at 13:15:27 UTC. Progress M-16M was pushed away from ISS by the springs of the docking system and slowly departed the station. Two minutes after undocking, Progress M-16M conducted a short 0.6-m/s departure burn to rapidly leave the vicinity of the station and quickly reach a safe distance to ISS for the deorbit burn.
At about 16:19 UTC, when the Progress is at a safe distance to ISS, it will fire its Main Propulsion System to perform the deorbit burn, placing it on a trajectory to intercept Earth’s atmosphere for a destructive Re-Entry over the Pacific Ocean. The burn will be 3 minutes and 27 seconds in duration and slow the vehicle down by 103m/s. Re-Entry will take place at 16:55 UTC. Any surviving fragments will impact away from populated land masses.
Progress M-16M prepares for Undocking on Saturday
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February 5, 2013
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Progress M-16M is being prepared for undocking from the Pirs Module of the International Space Station on Saturday to set the stage for the end of the Progress M-16M mission that started back on August 1, 2012.
Progress M-16M made a fast Rendezvous on August 1/2, 2012 and delivered a total of 2,639 Kilograms of supplies to the station that included dry cargo, water, propellants and Oxygen. Over the course of its six-month stay, the cargo compartment was unloaded by the crew members that also filled water containers and performed ISS Repressurizations from Progress tankage. Propellants were transferred to the Station’s tanks and Progress M-16M conducted several Space Station Reboosts, making use of additional propellants in its own tanks. As the vehicle approached the end of its stay, it was loaded with trash and no-longer needed items that it will take on a fiery trip back to Earth. |
Photo: NASA
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Progress M-16M is scheduled to undock on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 13:15 UTC, starting a very short free flight to get ready for its deorbit burn. At about 15:30 UTC, when the Progress is at a safe distance to ISS, it will fire its Main Propulsion System to perform the deorbit burn, placing it on a trajectory to intercept Earth’s atmosphere for a destructive Re-Entry over the Pacific Ocean. Any surviving fragments will impact away from populated land masses.
Progress M-16M arrives at ISS after accelerated Rendezvous |
August 2, 2012 |
*File Image* Photo: NASA
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The Progress M-16M Resupply Spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station after a flawless docking following the abbreviated Rendezvous Profile that was tested on this flight for the first time. Docking was on-time at 1:18 GMT on Thursday, August 2.
After being successfully inserted in its desired Orbit nine minutes after blasting off aboard a Soyuz-U Rocket launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 19:35 GMT on Wednesday, the Progress Spacecraft began the execution of its compressed Rendezvous Timeline. Four major Rendezvous Burn had to be performed during the first two orbits of the flight to allow Progress M-16M to catch up with the Space Station and raise its orbital altitude. The first of these burns came at 20:17 GMT and had a duration of 52.9 seconds for a velocity increase of 20.89 meters per second raising the vehicle's mean altitude by 25.3 Kilometers. The first maneuver was the largest burn of this modified mission profile. |
The second maneuver was successfully performed at 20:54 GMT for a Delta-V of 11.95 meters per second and a mean altitude increase of 26.5 Kilometers. Two 7-meter-per-second burns followed at T+2 hours and 4 minutes, and T+2 hours and 35 minutes. Both had a duration of 18.5 seconds. These two burns combined resulted in a 22.8-Kilometer mean altitude increase. After the initial Rendezvous Maneuvers were complete, the vehicles started its nominal Automated Rendezvous Sequence at 23:03 GMT - 2 hours and 20 minutes before the anticipated docking time. During the Rendezvous Sequence, Progress performed more burns and rendezvous impulses to enter the proximity of the Space Station. With more than 90 minutes to go, the KURS Systems of the Space Station and the Progress were activated to provide navigation data. At a Range of 15 Kilometers, the standard KURS short test was performed showing that the system was providing valid Range and Range Rate Data. The TV System was activated at 8 Kilometers and the vehicle continued its approach. Aboard the International Space Station, the Russian Crew Members shifted their sleep cycles to support the docking. Gennady Padalka was standing by at the TORU Controls when the vehicle came close to ISS to assume control over the spacecraft at the first indication of a problem with its navigation system and dock the vehicle manually. Correct TORU Commanding was verified when Progress was inside 9 Kilometers to ISS. The other two crew members were assisting Padalka and acquired engineering footage of the vehicle.
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At 1:02 GMT on Thursday, the Spacecraft reached a distance of 300 meters to ISS at which it initiated its Flyaround Maneuver to align itself with the Pirs Docking Compartment. Once the Flyaround was complete, the Progress Spacecraft entered Stationkeeping to perform a roll maneuver and give Mission Controllers a chance to check its systems and verify good alignment. At 1:07 GMT, the Final Approach Command was sent and Progress M-16M fired its thrusters to resume its approach. Stationkeeping was shortened due to good alignment leading to an early arrival of Progress M-16M. Final Approach was nominal, the vehicle maintained good alignment and reduced its velocity to a gentle docking speed of 0.1 meters per second. Contact and Capture occurred at 1:18 GMT while the complex was flying over the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America, marking the arrival of the Progress M-16M Spacecraft at ISS after its Express Rendezvous. Contact came 5 hours and 43 minutes after launch. Docking was 6 minutes ahead of the planned timeline showing that all operations were executed flawlessly.
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*File Image* Photo. NASA
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This new, fast rendezvous profile could be used on future Progress and Soyuz Vehicles and cut a significant amount of free flight time. At present, the nominal flight profile calls for 34 Rendezvous Orbits (51.6 hours from launch to docking). This reduction of free flight time could be useful for Cargo Missions making it easier to transport time-critical experiment payloads to the International Space Station. For Soyuz Missions, the expedited Rendezvous would allow crews to reach the comforts of ISS faster. It is known that the 2-day ride inside the confined space of the Soyuz Vehicle can be stressful for the crew members. Also, a short nominal mission can extend timelines used in case of problems during the Rendezvous. For Soyuz, a total of two additional contingency life support days could be gained by shortening the primary nominal mission timeline. in addition, short-notice contingency flights to the Space Station become possible with a 6-hour Launch-To-Docking profile. When this abbreviated rendezvous sequence could become the nominal Progress/Soyuz Mission Profile has not been indicated by officials yet.
Following the arrival of the Progress M-16M Spacecraft, operations to establish a hard-mate between the two spacecraft got underway. After hooks and latches are fully closed and a hard mate between the Docking Compartment and the Progress is established, the Crew will start several hours of leak checks before opening hatches. After hatch opening, the interior of the Spacecraft will be outfitted to be ready for its docked mission. The M-16M Spacecraft is expected to remain docked for several months to deliver its cargo to the station and be loaded with trash and no-longer-needed items for disposal.
Progress M-16M delivers a total of 2,639 Kilograms of Cargo the the Station. This cargo includes 1,242 Kilograms of dry cargo delivered via the vehicle's cargo carrier and 680 Kilograms of Propellants that will be transferred to the Space Station's tanks. In addition, 420 Kilograms of water are aboard the Progress that will be transferred to ISS for Oxygen generation and 47 Kilograms of compressed gases (28kg Oxygen and 19kg air) will be used to repressurize the Space Station's atmosphere. The Dry Cargo includes 230 Kilograms of food for the US Segment, 359 Kilograms of Russian food plus fresh food, 135 Kilograms of Crew Supplies such as clothes and personal items, 127 Kilograms of equipment for the sanitary facilities of ISS and 23 Kilograms of Science Hardware. Also part of the dry cargo are supplies for the individual Russian Modules needed for maintenance and utilization.
Following the arrival of the Progress M-16M Spacecraft, operations to establish a hard-mate between the two spacecraft got underway. After hooks and latches are fully closed and a hard mate between the Docking Compartment and the Progress is established, the Crew will start several hours of leak checks before opening hatches. After hatch opening, the interior of the Spacecraft will be outfitted to be ready for its docked mission. The M-16M Spacecraft is expected to remain docked for several months to deliver its cargo to the station and be loaded with trash and no-longer-needed items for disposal.
Progress M-16M delivers a total of 2,639 Kilograms of Cargo the the Station. This cargo includes 1,242 Kilograms of dry cargo delivered via the vehicle's cargo carrier and 680 Kilograms of Propellants that will be transferred to the Space Station's tanks. In addition, 420 Kilograms of water are aboard the Progress that will be transferred to ISS for Oxygen generation and 47 Kilograms of compressed gases (28kg Oxygen and 19kg air) will be used to repressurize the Space Station's atmosphere. The Dry Cargo includes 230 Kilograms of food for the US Segment, 359 Kilograms of Russian food plus fresh food, 135 Kilograms of Crew Supplies such as clothes and personal items, 127 Kilograms of equipment for the sanitary facilities of ISS and 23 Kilograms of Science Hardware. Also part of the dry cargo are supplies for the individual Russian Modules needed for maintenance and utilization.
Progress M-16M launches on Express Mission to the Space Station |
August 1, 2012 |
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A Soyuz-U Launch Vehicle lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 19:35 GMT delivering the Progress M-16M Spacecraft to orbit on a International Space Station Resupply Mission featuring a modified flight plan for the spacecraft. Ascent was flawless and Progress M-16M was released on its fast-lane trajectory making a 4-orbit Rendezvous with ISS for docking at 1:24 GMT on August 2.
Countdown Operations got underway as planned after Rollout and nominal On-Pad Procedures were completed at the Cosmodrome and the Launch Complex. Prior to fueling, the State Commission met to conduct a final Systems Review. A GO for fueling was given and the tanking process got underway after the 6-hour countdown sequence started. During the Countdown Process, no problems were reported and the Automated Sequence of the Launch Countdown started on time at 19:29 GMT - making final vehicle re-configurations to place the Rocket in its final Launch Configuration. Liftoff occurred on time at precisely 19:35:13 GMT (1:35am local) and the Soyuz-U Launcher blasted off powered by its Core Stage and four strap-on Boosters each equipped with a RD-107 engine. At liftoff the four RD-107 and single RD-108 of the Core Stage provide a total thrust of 4,140 Kilonewtons. As the 310,000-Kilogram Launcher made its initial ascent, it performed its pitch maneuver to align itself with the precise ascent trajectory planned for this mission. 118 seconds after blastoff, the boosters burned out having consumed more than 40,000 Kilograms of propellants each. The Core Stage continued powered flight until T+4:58 when it shut down and separated from the launcher. Soyuz staging is accomplished by igniting the Upper Stage Engine and initiate pyrotechnic separation bolts at the same time with engine exhaust of the third stage pushing the Core Stage away. Operation of the third stage and its RD-0110 Engine was normal during its 3-minute 49-second Burn. Ascent was completed nominally and spacecraft separation occurred just four seconds after shutdown. After spacecraft separation, the Progress deployed its Solar Arrays and Communications Antennas to complete Orbital Insertion and start its Mission to resupply the Space Station. |
Progress Launch *File Image* - Photo: RSC Energia
Progress Launch *File Image* - Photo: RSC Energia
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This successful orbital insertion marks the start of orbital operations for the Progress M-16M Spacecraft that will now link up with the Space Station.
Progress M-16M is the first Russian Spacecraft to perform an abbreviated Rendezvous Sequence linking up with ISS in just four Orbits as opposed to the 34 Rendezvous Orbits that are the standard flight profile for Progress and Soyuz Vehicles. This means that the usual Rendezvous Maneuvers have to be compressed into a short timeline. Four major Rendezvous Burns will be performed during the first two orbits before the Automated Rendezvous Sequence begins that will be only slightly different from the nominal profile. Progress M-16M will start its link-up with the Space Station just minutes after orbital insertion into its 193 by 245-Kilometer transfer orbit. At T+42 minutes and 43 seconds, the spacecraft will perform its first Rendezvous Burn with a duration of 52.9 seconds and a velocity change of 20.9 meters per second. One more major burn takes place 69 minutes into the mission changing the vehicle's velocity by 11.95 meters per second. This burn will be 30.7 seconds in duration. Two more 7-meter-per-second burns are planned 123 and 154 minutes after liftoff before Progress M-16M initiates its Automated Rendezvous at 23:03 GMT on August 1. During the Automated Rendezvous Sequence, the spacecraft makes a series of burns to enter the proximity of the space station. The usual Flyaround would begin at around 1:02 GMT on August 2 and Progress M-16M will dock to the Pirs Module of the Space Station at 1:24 GMT.
The Crew of ISS will be supporting the Rendezvous and Docking by monitoring the vehicle and acquiring engineering footage. ISS Commander Gennady Padalka will be standing by at the TORU Controls to assume manual control over the spacecraft should a problem with its navigation system occur. In case of a failure within 400 meters to ISS, Padalka would perform a remote controlled approach and docking. After docking, standard operations will be performed to establish a hard-mate between the vehicles by closing hooks and latches before leak checks and hatch opening can be made. Progress M-16M will stay aboard ISS for nearly 3 months to make its delivery of 2,639 Kilograms of cargo.
Live Progress M-16M Mission Coverage is available here.
Photo Gallery: Soyuz-U Launch
Progress M-16M is the first Russian Spacecraft to perform an abbreviated Rendezvous Sequence linking up with ISS in just four Orbits as opposed to the 34 Rendezvous Orbits that are the standard flight profile for Progress and Soyuz Vehicles. This means that the usual Rendezvous Maneuvers have to be compressed into a short timeline. Four major Rendezvous Burns will be performed during the first two orbits before the Automated Rendezvous Sequence begins that will be only slightly different from the nominal profile. Progress M-16M will start its link-up with the Space Station just minutes after orbital insertion into its 193 by 245-Kilometer transfer orbit. At T+42 minutes and 43 seconds, the spacecraft will perform its first Rendezvous Burn with a duration of 52.9 seconds and a velocity change of 20.9 meters per second. One more major burn takes place 69 minutes into the mission changing the vehicle's velocity by 11.95 meters per second. This burn will be 30.7 seconds in duration. Two more 7-meter-per-second burns are planned 123 and 154 minutes after liftoff before Progress M-16M initiates its Automated Rendezvous at 23:03 GMT on August 1. During the Automated Rendezvous Sequence, the spacecraft makes a series of burns to enter the proximity of the space station. The usual Flyaround would begin at around 1:02 GMT on August 2 and Progress M-16M will dock to the Pirs Module of the Space Station at 1:24 GMT.
The Crew of ISS will be supporting the Rendezvous and Docking by monitoring the vehicle and acquiring engineering footage. ISS Commander Gennady Padalka will be standing by at the TORU Controls to assume manual control over the spacecraft should a problem with its navigation system occur. In case of a failure within 400 meters to ISS, Padalka would perform a remote controlled approach and docking. After docking, standard operations will be performed to establish a hard-mate between the vehicles by closing hooks and latches before leak checks and hatch opening can be made. Progress M-16M will stay aboard ISS for nearly 3 months to make its delivery of 2,639 Kilograms of cargo.
Live Progress M-16M Mission Coverage is available here.
Photo Gallery: Soyuz-U Launch
Soyuz-U/Progress M-16M rolled to Baikonur Launch Pad |
July 30, 2012 |
Photo: Energia
Photo: Energia
Photo Gallery: Progress M-16M Processing and Integration
Photo Gallery: Soyuz-U/Progress M-16M Rollout Related Site: Progress M-15M |
A Soyuz-U Launch Vehicle with Progress M-16M has been rolled to its Launch Complex at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday, July 30 to pave the way for final launch preparations and liftoff on August 1 on a busy mission to resupply the International Space Station.
On July 27, the final pre-launch inspection of the Progress M-16M Spacecraft was performed and the vehicle was rotated horizontally for installation in its protective Payload Shroud. Also on Friday, the Upper Composite was moved from the Spacecraft Processing Facility to the Launcher Integration Building where it was attached to the Soyuz-U Launcher that was fully integrated earlier. With payload installation completing the launcher Integration Process, the vehicle began a final round of testing and inspections before it was approved for Rollout. On Monday morning, local time, the Soyuz-U Launch Vehicle was moved to the Pad for final pre-launch operations. Once arriving at the complex, the Launch Vehicle was placed in its Liftoff Position and L-2 activities were started. These operations include final testing of the Rocket and Spacecraft as well as battery charging, fueling preparations and final systems reviews. The State Commission will conduct its final meeting ahead of the countdown to give a GO/No GO for Launch Vehicle Fueling. Launch remains set for Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 19:35 GMT. After Orbital Insertion 9 minutes after blastoff, Progress M-16M will not get a break as it makes its expedited rendezvous with the International Space Station for docking 4 Orbits after launch instead of the usual 34 Rendezvous Orbits. For that, Progress M-16M will start its link-up with the Space Station just minutes after orbital insertion into its 193 by 245-Kilometer transfer orbit. At T+42 minutes and 43 seconds, the spacecraft will perform its first Rendezvous Burn with a duration of 52.9 seconds and a velocity change of 20.9 meters per second. One more major burn takes place 69 minutes into the mission changing the vehicle's velocity by 11.95 meters per second. This burn will be 30.7 seconds in duration. Two more 7-meter-per-second burns are planned 123 and 154 minutes after liftoff before Progress M-16M initiates its Automated Rendezvous at 23:03 GMT on August 1. During the Automated Rendezvous Sequence, the spacecraft makes a series of burns to enter the proximity of the space station. The usual Flyaround would begin at around 1:02 GMT on August 2 and Progress M-16M will dock to the Pirs Module of the Space Station at 1:24 GMT. |
After its arrival at the International Space Station, Progress M-16M will start a busy resupply mission. The vehicle will deliver at total of 2,639 Kilograms of Cargo the the Station. This cargo includes 1,242 Kilograms of dry cargo delivered via the vehicle's cargo carrier and 680 Kilograms of Propellants that will be transferred to the Space Station's tanks. In addition, 420 Kilograms of water are aboard the Progress that will be transferred to ISS for Oxygen generation and 47 Kilograms of compressed gases (28kg Oxygen and 19kg air) will be used to repressurize the Space Station's atmosphere. The Dry Cargo includes 230 Kilograms of food for the US Segment, 359 Kilograms of Russian food plus fresh food, 135 Kilograms of Crew Supplies such as clothes and personal items, 127 Kilograms of equipment for the sanitary facilities of ISS and 23 Kilograms of Science Hardware. Also part of the dry cargo are supplies for the individual Russian Modules needed for maintenance and utilization.
Progress M-16M completes final Pre-Launch Processing
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July 25, 2012
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Preparations for the Launch of Progress M-16M aboard a Soyuz-U Rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome are entering a final stage as launch is one week away.
Progress M-16M has completed primary cargo loading and entered final preparations inside the Spacecraft Processing Facility. Once finishing final inspections, the Spacecraft was delivered to the fueling facility where propellants and compressed gases were loaded into the vehicle’s tanks. Nitrogen Tetroxide Oxidizer and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine Fuel were loaded into the SKD Main Propulsion System Tanks. Two Helium Spheres have been loaded with high-pressure Helium that will be used for Propellant Tank Pressurization in orbit. Also, Oxygen and Nitrogen gases were loaded into the vehicle that are being used to repressurize the atmosphere of ISS. Once hazardous processing was completed on July 23, the vehicle returned to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility after the fueling process concluded. The vehicle was placed in a test-stand for further processing. |
Photo: RSC Energia
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There, a thorough inspection was made to ensure the vehicle is in good condition. Afterwards, the Progress Capsule was installed on its Payload Adapter on July 25, completing the spacecraft integration process. Also, the Payload Fairing was cleaned and inspected. Later this week, the vehicle will be attached to its launcher to complete the stacked vehicle and kick off one more round of integrated tests before rolling to the Launch Complex early next week.
All Preparations are on track for liftoff at 19:35 GMT on August 1, 2012. Should Progress M-16M follow the modified 4-Orbit Rendezvous Profile, docking to the Pirs Module of the Space Station would occur at 1:24 GMT on August 2. Using the nominal 34-Orbit Flight Profile, the Soyuz-U would blast off 3 Minutes later on August 1 and dock to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 22:14 GMT on August 3. A decision on the Flight Profile of Progress M-16M has not been made yet and will probably come after the Progress M-15M Re-Docking is completed next weekend.
Photo Gallery: Progress M-16M Processing
All Preparations are on track for liftoff at 19:35 GMT on August 1, 2012. Should Progress M-16M follow the modified 4-Orbit Rendezvous Profile, docking to the Pirs Module of the Space Station would occur at 1:24 GMT on August 2. Using the nominal 34-Orbit Flight Profile, the Soyuz-U would blast off 3 Minutes later on August 1 and dock to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 22:14 GMT on August 3. A decision on the Flight Profile of Progress M-16M has not been made yet and will probably come after the Progress M-15M Re-Docking is completed next weekend.
Photo Gallery: Progress M-16M Processing
Photo: RSC Energia
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Photo: RSC Energia
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Progress M-16M to fly modified Mission Profile
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July 9, 2012
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The Russian
Space Agency has announced its intent to implement a modified Flight Profile in
the Progress M-16M Mission – the next Russian International Space Station Resupply
Mission.
This modified flight profile calls for a shortened Launch-To-Docking Flight reducing the number of Orbits from Insertion to ISS Docking from 34 Rendezvous Orbits to 4. For that, the Soyuz-U Launch Vehicle would perform a nominal insertion into Low Earth Orbit with Progress M-16M beginning Rendezvous Maneuvers earlier than usual. Four engine burns would be made during the first three orbits which are the major Rendezvous Burns of the Progress Flight. Up to six additional maneuvers would occur on Orbits 3 and 4 before the nominal ISS Rendezvous and Docking procedure using the Progress’ automated KURS Navigation System is completed. For the modified flight profile, the launch of the Progress Vehicle would occur on August 1, 2012 at 19:35 GMT with docking at 01:24 GMT on the 2nd. Using the nominal 34-Orbit Flight Profile, the Soyuz-U would blast off 3 Minutes later on August 1 and dock to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 22:14 GMT on August 3. |
Progress M - *File Image* - Photo: NASA
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A decision
whether the Progress Vehicle will perform this modified flight profile is
expected shortly before launch. According to NASA, switching flight profiles after
orbital insertion is also possible.
Preparations for the Launch of a Soyuz-U with the Progress M-16M Spacecraft are underway at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Launch Vehicle was delivered in March 2012 and has started its integration process inside the Launcher Integration Building. Leading up to launch, the four strap-on boosters are attached to the Core Stage of the Vehicle and the Progress Vehicle completes its final processing flow before being integrated with the Upper Stage and installed atop the launcher
Preparations for the Launch of a Soyuz-U with the Progress M-16M Spacecraft are underway at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Launch Vehicle was delivered in March 2012 and has started its integration process inside the Launcher Integration Building. Leading up to launch, the four strap-on boosters are attached to the Core Stage of the Vehicle and the Progress Vehicle completes its final processing flow before being integrated with the Upper Stage and installed atop the launcher
A Soyuz Rocket will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
to send Progress M-16M on its way to the Space Station on July 31, 2012 delivering the spacecraft to Orbit in less than 10 minutes. The vehicle
make an automated docking to the Pirs Docking Compartment of the Station
with the Russian Crew monitoring its approach ready to take over
control of the spacecraft via the TORU System should any problems occur.
Progress M-16M will deliver about 2,700 Kilograms of cargo to the
Station including approximately 1,900 Kilograms of dry cargo. The vehicle will
deliver fuel, resupply items and experiment material to the orbiting
outpost. After cargo is unloaded, the Progress will be loaded with trash
and disposed science payloads to burn up during re-entry. Progress
M-16M will remain docked throughout Expedition 32 and undock in October
2012.
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