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A new Russian cargo ship, Progress, is suing the International Space Station for an ultra-fast delivery mission today (4 April) after a flawless takeoff at the top of its Soyuz rocket.
The Soyuz launched the unprocessed supply ship Progress 72 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 07:01 EST (11:01 am CET) to deliver more than 3.5 tons of supplies to the astronauts on the station. Progress 72 is following a fast two-orbit trajectory that should bring it back to the station at 10:25 EDT (14:25 GMT), just under 3.5 hours after take-off. You can watch the live dock here from 9:45 am EDT (1:45 pm GMT).
"It was a perfect launch, just in time," NASA spokesman Rob Navias said in a live comment. "A flawless climb."
Related: How Russia's Progress Freight Ships Work (Infographic)
A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the unarmed Progress 72 cargo ship is launched on 4 April 2019 for the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
(Image: © NASA TV)
This is only the second time that the Russian space agency Roscosmos is attempting ultra-fast delivery. The journey (and Soyuz outings crewed) took two days to arrive at the station, Roscosmos reducing this transit time to six hours with a trajectory to four orbits.
In July 2018, Roscosmos successfully organized the first two-orbit rendezvous. with the launch of Progress 70.
Progress 72 contains approximately 3.7 tons of supplies for the six Expedition 59 astronauts living on the International Space Station. This cargo includes 104 lbs (47 kilograms) of oxygen and air; 926 lb (420 kg) of water; 3,117 lb (1,413 kg) of spare parts and other gear; and 3,375 pounds. (1,530 kg) propellant. Among the dry cargoes on Progress 72 are components to be used during a spacewalk by astronauts Expedition 59 on Monday, April 8th.
The Russian freighter Progress 72 takes off from site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on April 4, 2019, at the top of a Soyuz rocket.
(Image: © Roscosmos)
The launch of Progress 72 begins today a busy day in the space.
At 10:15 am EDT (14:15 GMT), the Israeli lunar lander Beresheet built by SpaceIL must launch its engine to orbit the moon. This is the first private earth mission to attempt a lunar landing and the first lunar mission of Israel.
Later, another Soyuz rocket – the one prepared by European launcher Arianespace – will take off at 12:30. EDT (16h30 GMT) from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, to put four O3b satellites into orbit for the SES satellite communications provider.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe, the first spacecraft built to "touch the sun," will also be making its second close flyover of our star today. The probe will cross the outside atmosphere of the sun during the second of 24 sun flyovers to study the operation of the star's atmosphere.
Finally, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Hayabusa2 spacecraft is expected to fire an impact probe on the Ryugu asteroid to create an artificial crater on the space rock. This event is scheduled for 22:36. EDT (2:36 am on April 5th GMT).
And SpaceX, a private spaceflight company, is expected to test the first engines of its second Falcon Heavy rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, according to Spaceflight Now.
Email Tariq Malik at [email protected] or follow him. @tariqjmalik. follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook.
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