Progress MS-29

{{Short description|2024 Russian resupply spaceflight to the ISS}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Progress MS-29

| image = The Progress 90 cargo craft approaches the International Space Station (iss072e277987).jpg

| image_caption = Progress MS-29 approaches the ISS

| names_list = Progress 90
ISS 90P

| mission_type = ISS resupply

| operator = Roscosmos

| mission_duration = {{time interval|21 November 2024 12:22:23||show=dhm}} (in progress)

| spacecraft = Progress MS-29 No. 459{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |title=Progress MS |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/progress-ms.htm |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}

| spacecraft_type = Progress MS

| manufacturer = Energia

| launch_mass = {{cvt|7280|kg}}{{Cite web |title=Progress MS-29 |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/7552 |access-date=13 August 2024 |website=Next Spaceflight |language=en}}

| launch_date = {{Start date text|21 November 2024, 12:22:23}} UTC (17:22:23 AQTT)

| launch_rocket = Soyuz-2.1a

| launch_site = Baikonur, Site 31/6

| launch_contractor = RKTs Progress

| disposal_type = Deorbited (planned)

| decay_date = May 2025 (planned)

| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit

| orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit

| orbit_inclination = 51.65°

| apsis = gee

| docking = {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock

| docking_target = ISS

| docking_type = dock

| docking_port = Poisk zenith

| docking_date = 23 November 2024,
14:31:16 UTC

| undocking_date = May 2025 (planned)

| time_docked = {{time interval|23 November 2024 14:31:16||show=dhm}} (in progress)

}}

| cargo_mass = {{cvt|2487|kg}}

| cargo_mass_press = {{cvt|1155|kg}}

| cargo_mass_fuel = {{cvt|869|kg}}

| cargo_mass_gas = {{cvt|43|kg}}

| cargo_mass_water = {{cvt|420|kg}}

| programme = Progress flights

| previous_mission = Progress MS-28

| next_mission = Progress MS-30

}}

Progress MS-29 ({{Langx|ru|Прогресс МC-29}}), Russian production No. 459, identified by NASA as Progress 90, is a Progress spaceflight launched by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). It is the 182nd flight of a Progress spacecraft.

Mission

Progress MS-29, launched on 21 November 2024 at 12:22:23 UTC (17:22:23 AQTT, local time at the launch site) from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket. After a nominal two-day free flight, it docked with the zenith (space facing) port of the ISS's Poisk module on 23 November at 14:31:16 UTC.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Mark |date=23 November 2024 |title=Space Delivery Arrives at Station Aboard Progress Cargo Craft |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/11/23/space-deilvery-arrives-at-station-aboard-progress-cargo-craft/ |access-date=23 November 2024 |website=NASA |language=en}}

Upon opening the hatch, the crew detected a toxic smell and possible contamination in the form of droplets. They immediately closed the hatch, and ISS systems were activated to scrub the atmosphere of potential contaminants.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=24 November 2024 |title=After Russian ship docks to space station, astronauts report a foul smell |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/11/after-russian-ship-docks-to-space-station-astronauts-report-a-foul-smell/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}} The hatch was reopened on 25 November and unloading of the cargo ship proceeded as planned. NASA said that outgassing from materials inside the pressurized cargo section was the likely source of the odor.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Mark |date=2024-11-25 |title=Space Biology, Tech Studies Fill Day as Station Boosts Orbit |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/11/25/space-biology-tech-studies-fill-day-as-station-boosts-orbit/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=NASA |language=en-US}} However, some within the Russian space industry believe that the smell and droplets are likely related to the departure of the previous Progress MS-27 cargo ship on 19 November 2024. They believe that ground control failed to purge the lines to transfer propellant from the spacecraft to the station's tanks before undocking. As a result, highly toxic hypergolic propellants could have remained in the lines and spilled onto the docking mechanism as Progress MS-27 undocked. When Progress MS-29 arrived, the remaining propellant on the docking mechanism was trapped inside the hatch, allowing it to enter the station when it was opened.

Manifest

Each Progress mission delivers over a thousand kilograms of supplies in its pressurized section, accessible to crewmembers. These supplies include consumables such as food, water, and air, along with equipment for maintenance and scientific research. In its unpressurized section, the spacecraft carries tanks of water, fuel, and gases to replenish the station’s resources and sustain its onboard atmosphere. These resources are transferred to the station through an automated process.{{Cite web |last=Zak |first=Anatoly |date=30 November 2023 |title=Progress cargo ship |url=https://www.russianspaceweb.com/progress.html |access-date=23 November 2024 |website=RussianSpaceWeb.com}}

For this mission, Progress MS-29 was loaded with a total of {{cvt|2487|kg}} of cargo and supplies prior to launch. The cargo manifest includes the following:{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=Progress MS-29 Press Kit |url=https://m.vk.com/wall-30315369_577260 |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=Roscosmos |lang=ru}}{{Cite web |last=Zak |first=Anatoly |title=Progress MS-29 |url=https://www.russianspaceweb.com/progress-ms-29.html |access-date=23 November 2024 |website=RussianSpaceWeb.com}}

Pressurized supplies: {{cvt|1155|kg}}
Fuel: {{cvt|869|kg}}
Water: {{cvt|420|kg}}
Nitrogen gas: {{cvt|43|kg}}

Progress MS-29

Mission

Manifest

References

See also