Russia has launched the fastest cargo mission of the Space Station

A Russian cargo ship Progress was launched today at the International Space Station (ISS) (July 9) to deliver supplies to the crew of Expedition 56 in record time.

Packed with nearly 3 tons (2.7 metric tons) of food, fuel and other supplies, the unstolled Progress cargo ship took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Russian Soyuz rocket at 17:51. EDT (21:51 GMT, 3:51 am local time on July 10)

"We took off from the Progress supply vessel to the expressway to the International Space Station," said NASA spokesman Rob Navias. . .

The ship, known as Progress 70 or Progress MS-09, is expected to arrive at the Space Station tonight at 21:39. EDT (0139 GMT July 10), completing the trip in record time of 3 hours and 48 minutes. "This trip of less than 4 hours will demonstrate an accelerated capacity that could be used in future Russian cargo and crew launches," NASA officials said in a statement. [How Russia’s Progress Spaceships Work (Infographic)]

When he arrives at the ISS, the Progress ship will dock with the Russian Pirs module. NASA TV will provide live coverage of the arrival and docking of the spacecraft at the ISS, and you can watch it live from 9 pm. EDT (0100 GMT).

After the quays of the spacecraft, the six members of the Expedition 56 crew will spend the next few months unloading the cargo, which includes 1,170 lbs . (530 kilograms) propeller, 115 pounds. (52 kg) gaseous oxygen, 930 lbs. (420 kg) of water and 3,450 lbs. NASA Public Affairs Officer Dan Huot told Space.com in an email that he was carrying 1,565 kg of other "dry" merchandise such as food and water. other equipment. declaration. Usually, the Progress capsules are sent to burn in the Earth's atmosphere after the ISS crew members have filled the waste vessels. But when Progress 70 comes out of the ISS, it will take away another: the Pirs mooring bay.

The Russian Space Agency Roscosmos gets rid of the 17-year module to make way for new multi-purpose laboratory module (MDM), also known as Nauka, which has not yet been launched at l & # 39; ISS. The new module was originally scheduled to be launched in 2007 but has suffered several delays over the past decade. It is currently scheduled to launch in August 2019, but this could be postponed again, until 2020, according to the Russian news agency Sputnik International.

Roscosmos launched for the first time freight missions Progress to the ISS in 2000; At the time, it took about two days to one of the spacecraft to continue the laboratory into orbit after launch. However, the space agency has found a way to reduce this travel time to just under 6 hours in 2013. With the launch today, Roscosmos aims to demonstrate that one even faster travel is feasible.

cargo ship to the ISS via this new fast lane. Roscosmos planned to launch the Progress 68 satellite on this 4 – hour flight in October 2017, but a last – minute delay forced the controllers to return to the old two – day route because of the orbital mechanics involved. in the ISS

. The same thing happened with the launch of the Progress 69 cargo in February. Because the launch was interrupted during the final moments of the countdown, the mission missed its chance to take the fast route to the ISS. Again, this Progress spacecraft flew with the old two-day flight profile instead.

But it seemed that fortune favored Progress 70.

"A perfect launch," Navias said of the launch of Progress 70. Navias added that Roscosmos officials hoped to be able to make several Progress flights to space station before using the 2-orbit flight profile for crewed missions on the agency's Soyuz spacecraft.

Spacecraft are not the only vehicles to carry crew supplies and scientific gear to the ISS. The next shipment is expected in September on a Japanese Kounotori spacecraft, also known as the H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV). This mission, HTV-7, will take about 4 hours to reach the ISS after its launch from the Tanegashima Japanese Space Center

NASA does not have its own rockets or vehicles to send goods to the US. ; ISS. However, NASA contracted private spaceflight companies to launch the agency's cargo shipments. Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems will launch a Cygnus cargo mission aboard the ISS for NASA in November, followed by a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft later in the month.

The European Space Agency has also launched goods to the ISS with the Automated Transfer Vehicle of this agency, the latest of which was launched in 2014. Another mission of delivery of freight, Progress 71, should be launched at the end of October. Email Hanneke Weitering at [email protected] or follow @hannekescience . Follow us @Spacedotcom Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com .