Progress 20

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

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

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

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Progress 20

| image = Progress drawing.svg

| image_caption = A Progress 7K-TG spacecraft

| mission_type = Salyut 7 resupply

| COSPAR_ID = 1984-038A

| SATCAT = 14932{{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.121)

| 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 = 15 April 1984, 08:12:53 UTC

| launch_rocket = Soyuz-U2

| launch_site = Baikonur, Site 31/6

| docking =

{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock

| docking_target = Salyut 7

| docking_type = dock

| docking_port = Aft{{cite web|url=http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/cargoes/pr20.sht|title=Cargo spacecraft "Progress 20"|work=Manned Astronautics figures and facts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013000511/http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/cargoes/pr20.sht|archive-date=13 October 2007}}

| docking_date = 17 April 1984, 09:22 UTC

| undocking_date = 6 May 1984, 17:46 UTC

}}

| disposal_type = Deorbited

| decay_date = 7 May 1984, 00:32:51 UTC

| orbit_epoch = 15 April 1984

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Low Earth

| orbit_periapsis = 186 km

| orbit_apoapsis = 260 km

| orbit_inclination = 51.6°

| orbit_period = 89.0 minutes

| apsis = gee

| programme = Progress (spacecraft)

| previous_mission = Progress 19

| next_mission = Progress 21

}}

Progress 20 ({{Langx|ru|Прогресс 20|italic=yes}}) was a Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft, which was launched in April 1984 to resupply the Salyut 7 space station.

Spacecraft

Progress 20 was a Progress 7K-TG spacecraft. The 20th of forty three to be launched, it had the serial number 121.{{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 20 launched on 15 April 1984 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh SSR. It used a Soyuz-U2 rocket.{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1984-038A|title=Progress 20|work=NASA|access-date=5 December 2020}} {{PD-notice}}

Docking

Progress 20 docked with the aft port of Salyut 7 on 17 April 1984 at 09:22 UTC, and was undocked on 6 May 1984 at 17:46 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 7 May 1984, when it was deorbited. The deorbit burn occurred at 00:32:51 UTC, with the mission ending at around 01:15 UTC.

See also

References