Progress M-12M
{{short description|Resupply mission or crew escape test}}
{{About|the failed cargo mission to the International Space Station|the periodic comet|44P/Reinmuth}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Progress M-12M
| image = Progress-M drawing.svg
| image_caption = A Progress-M spacecraft
| mission_type = ISS resupply
| operator = Roskosmos
| mission_duration = Failed to orbit
| spacecraft_type = Progress-M s/n 412
| manufacturer = RKK Energia
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass =
| launch_date = 24 August 2011, 13:00:11 UTC
| launch_rocket = Soyuz-U
| launch_site = Baikonur, Site 1/5
| orbit_epoch = 24 August 2011
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
(Failed to orbit)
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination = 51.6°
| orbit_period =
| apsis = gee
| docking =
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = ISS
| docking_type = dock
| docking_port = Zvezda (planned)
| docking_date = 26 August 2011, 14:40 UTC
| undocking_date = 5 March 2012
| time_docked = 192 days
}}
| cargo_mass = 2670 kg
| cargo_mass_press = 1204 kg (dry cargo)
| cargo_mass_fuel = 996 kg
| cargo_mass_gas = 50 kg (oxygen)
| cargo_mass_water = 420 kg
| programme = Progress ISS Resupply
| previous_mission = Progress M-11M
| next_mission = Progress M-13M
}}
Progress M-12M ({{langx|ru|Прогресс М-12М|italic=yes}}), identified by NASA as Progress 44P, was an uncrewed Progress spacecraft that was lost in a launch failure on 24 August 2011, at the start of a mission to resupply the International Space Station. It was the twelfth modernised Progress-M spacecraft to be launched. Manufactured by RKK Energia, the spacecraft was to have been operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency.
Planned mission
Progress M-12M's planned mission had included resupplying ISS with 2670 kg of supplies, including oxygen, food and fuel. The planned mission also included three reboosts to the ISS.
Progress M-12M was due to dock with the aft port of the Zvezda module of the International Space Station at around 14:40 UTC on 26 August 2011, just over two days after launch.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/reports/iss_reports/2011/08212011.html|title=ISS On-Orbit Status|date=21 August 2011|access-date=24 August 2011|publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}} It would have remained docked for six months, before undocking on 5 March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/russias-progress-m-12m-fails-to-achieve-orbit/|title=Russia's Progress M-12M launches toward ISS – fails to achieve orbit|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=24 August 2011|access-date=24 August 2011|first=Pete|last=Harding}}
Cargo
Progress M-12M was carrying {{convert|2670|kg}} of cargo to the International Space Station. This included {{convert|420|kg}} of water, {{convert|50|kg}} of oxygen, and {{convert|996|kg}} of fuel. Of the fuel, {{convert|746|kg}} would have been used to refuel the ISS, and the remaining 250 kilograms would have been expended by the Progress spacecraft whilst docked, in its three reboost manoeuvres.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcc.rsa.ru/progress_m12m.htm|script-title=ru:Прогресс М-12М|language=ru|publisher=Центр Управления Полётами|access-date=25 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826234653/http://www.mcc.rsa.ru/progress_m12m.htm|archive-date=26 August 2011|url-status=dead}}
The spacecraft also contained {{convert|1204|kg}} of dry cargo, which consisted of parts for the station's air, water, power, lighting and thermal regulation systems, its control panels, and power supply system. Amongst the rest of the cargo was a further {{convert|4|kg}} of spare parts, {{convert|94|kg}} of hygiene supplies, {{convert|17|kg}} of protective equipment for the crew, {{convert|267|kg}} of food and {{convert|66|kg}} of medical and personal hygiene supplies, including air purification systems and new clothes for the crew. The spacecraft would also have delivered {{convert|139|kg}} of personal supplies for the crew, including letters, parcels and cameras. Of this, {{convert|37|kg}} was for the entire crew, and the remaining {{convert|102|kg}} was for the Russian crewmembers only.
Equipment to be installed in the various modules of the ISS was also aboard the Progress, with {{convert|31|kg}} to be installed in the Zarya module, {{convert|10|kg}} for Pirs, {{convert|77|kg}} for Rassvet, and {{convert|367|kg}} for installation in US modules. A further {{convert|38|kg}} of the cargo consisted of twelve scientific experiments to be performed aboard the station.
Launch failure
Progress M-12M was launched by a Soyuz-U carrier rocket, flying from Area 1/5 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Liftoff occurred at 13:00:11 UTC on 24 August 2011.{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp28/110824prog44p/index2.html|title=Station partners assess impacts after cargo launch failure|first=William|last=Harwood|date=24 August 2011|access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Spaceflight Now}}
Approximately 325 seconds into flight, a malfunction was detected in the RD-0110 engine powering the Blok I third stage of the Soyuz-U rocket, which caused the onboard computer to terminate the flight through thrust termination. As a result, the vehicle failed to achieve orbit, reentering over the Altai Republic region of Russia. It was the first failure of a Progress spacecraft since launches began in 1978, and the third consecutive orbital launch failure worldwide, following the failures of Ekspress-AM4 and Shijian XI-04 less than a week prior.{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1108/18longmarch/|title=Chinese rocket fails to orbit experimental satellite|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=18 August 2011|access-date=29 August 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1108/17proton/|title=Powerful communications satellite feared lost in space|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=17 August 2011|access-date=29 August 2011}}
As a precaution, the launch of a GLONASS satellite on a Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat, which had been scheduled for 26 August 2011, was delayed until the engines could be inspected.{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2011/08/25/soyuz/|script-title=ru:Роскосмос приостановил запуски ракет-носителей "Союз" |publisher=Lenta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005194202/http://lenta.ru/news/2011/08/25/soyuz/|archive-date=5 October 2011|date=25 August 2011|access-date=25 August 2011|language=ru|url-status=dead}}
On 9 September 2011, the FKA announced that the loss was caused by a blocked fuel duct, which caused the engines to shut down prematurely.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14852534|title=Russia pins Soyuz failure to production line defect|publisher=BBC Online|date=9 September 2011|access-date=9 September 2011}} The failure was not expected to have any immediate effect on the crew of the International Space Station, as the outpost was stocked with reserves of food, water and oxygen.{{cite web|url=http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=17766|script-title=ru:О ситуации с транспортным грузовым кораблем "Прогресс М-12М"|publisher=Roskosmos|date=24 August 2011|access-date=25 August 2011|language=ru|archive-date=21 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921051540/http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=17766|url-status=dead}} The spacecraft was insured for three billion rubles (US$103 million).{{cite news|title=Russia... Progress' Progress Is Nil — Soyuz Fails Again (Spacecraft)|date=August 24, 2011
|url=http://www.satnews.com/story.php?number=1572369255|publisher=SatNews|access-date=April 16, 2023}}
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Progress spacecraft}}
{{Uncrewed ISS flights}}
{{Orbital launches in 2011}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2011
Category:Progress (spacecraft) missions
Category:Satellite launch failures
Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 2011
Category:Spacecraft launched by Soyuz-U rockets
Category:Supply vehicles for the International Space Station