Progress 15

{{Short description|Soviet unmanned Progress cargo spacecraft}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Progress 15

| image = Progress drawing.svg

| image_caption = A Progress 7K-TG spacecraft

| mission_type = Salyut 7 resupply

| COSPAR_ID = 1982-094A

| SATCAT = 13558{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launchlog|work=Jonathan's Space Report|access-date=5 December 2020}}

| spacecraft = Progress (No.112)

| spacecraft_type = Progress 7K-TG{{cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/progress.htm|title=Progress 1 - 42 (11F615A15, 7K-TG)|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=5 December 2020}}

| manufacturer = NPO Energia

| launch_date = 18 September 1982, 04:58:54 UTC

| launch_rocket = Soyuz-U

| launch_site = Baikonur, Site 1/5

| docking =

{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock

| docking_target = Salyut 7

| docking_type = dock

| docking_port = Aft{{cite web|url=http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/cargoes/pr15.sht|title=Cargo spacecraft "Progress 15"|work=Manned Astronautics figures and facts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013000312/http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/cargoes/pr15.sht|archive-date=13 October 2007}}

| docking_date = 20 September 1982, 06:12 UTC

| undocking_date = 14 October 1982, 13:46 UTC

}}

| disposal_type = Deorbited

| decay_date = 16 October 1982, 17:08 UTC

| orbit_epoch = 18 September 1982

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Low Earth

| orbit_periapsis = 188 km

| orbit_apoapsis = 241 km

| orbit_inclination = 51.7°

| orbit_period = 88.8 minutes

| apsis = gee

| programme = Progress (spacecraft)

| previous_mission = Progress 14

| next_mission = Progress 16

}}

Progress 15 ({{Langx|ru|Прогресс 15|italic=yes}}) was a Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft, which was launched in September 1982 to resupply the Salyut 7 space station.

Spacecraft

Progress 15 was a Progress 7K-TG spacecraft. The 15th of forty three to be launched, it had the serial number 112.{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/progress.htm |title=Progress 1 - 42 (11F615A15, 7K-TG)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=26 November 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt |title=Launch Log|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=26 November 2010}} The Progress 7K-TG spacecraft was the first generation Progress, derived from the Soyuz 7K-T and intended for uncrewed logistics missions to space stations in support of the Salyut programme. On some missions the spacecraft were also used to adjust the orbit of the space station.

The Progress spacecraft had a dry mass of {{convert|6520|kg}}, which increased to around {{convert|7020|kg}} when fully fuelled. It measured {{convert|7.48|m}} in length, and {{convert|2.72|m}} in diameter. Each spacecraft could accommodate up to {{convert|2500|kg}} of payload, consisting of dry cargo and propellant. The spacecraft were powered by chemical batteries, and could operate in free flight for up to three days, remaining docked to the station for up to thirty.{{cite book|last1=Hall|first1=Rex D.|last2=Shayler|first2=David J.|title=Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft|year=2003 |publisher=Springer-Praxis|isbn=1-85233-657-9|pages=239–250}}

Launch

Progress 15 launched on 18 September 1982 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh SSR. It used a Soyuz-U rocket.{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1982-094A|title=Progress 15|work=NASA|access-date=5 December 2020}} {{PD-notice}}

Docking

Progress 15 docked with the aft port of Salyut 7 on 20 September 1982 at 06:12 UTC, and was undocked on 14 October 1982 at 13:46 UTC.{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/s/salyut7.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211020040/http://www.astronautix.com/s/salyut7.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 December 2016|title=Salyut 7|work=Astronautix|access-date=5 December 2020}}

Decay

It remained in orbit until 16 October 1982, when it was deorbited. The deorbit burn occurred at 17:08 UTC.

See also

References