ROSCOSMOS - Russian Vehicles patch.
Oct. 28, 2021
Progress MS-18 liftoff
In accordance with the approved Russian flight schedule to the International Space Station, today, October 28, 2021, at 03:00:32 Moscow time, the Soyuz carrier rocket was successfully launched from launcher No. 6 of site No. 31 (Vostok) of the Baikonur cosmodrome -2.1а "with the transport cargo vehicle "Progress MS-18". After 8 minutes 48 seconds, the separation of the spacecraft and the third stage of the carrier was recorded, then the solar panels and antennas opened.
Progress MS-18 launch (on-board camera view)
Specialists of the Main Operational Group for Flight Control of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (Rocket and Space Corporation Energia named after SP Korolev, part of the State Corporation Roscosmos) have started flight control. According to telemetric information received by the Central Information Center of the State Corporation Roscosmos, the rocket in the normal mode put the Russian spacecraft into the target orbit with the following parameters:
- Circulation period - 88.54 minutes;
- Orbital inclination - 51.67 degrees;
- Minimum orbital altitude - 193.00 km;
- The maximum orbital altitude is 240.00 km.
The autonomous flight to the International Space Station will take place according to the standard two-day scheme, and docking to the aggregate compartment of the Zvezda service module of the Russian segment is scheduled for October 30, 2021 at 04:34 Moscow time (± 3 min). Docking is planned to be carried out automatically under the control of specialists from the Moscow Region Mission Control Center TsNIIMash (part of Roscosmos) and the Russian crew members of the ISS-66 Expedition - Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov.
Progress MS-18 on the launch-pad
The new ship will deliver about 1,490 kg of various equipment and materials, including resource equipment and tools for extravehicular activities under the Russian program, medical control and sanitary and hygienic supplies, clothing items, food rations and fresh food for the crew of the 66th long-term expedition. as well as packing for the following scientific space experiments: "Matryoshka-R", "Biomag-M", "Aseptic", "Structure" and "Photobioreactor". In addition, it carries 560 kg of refueling fuel, 420 liters of drinking water in the Rodnik system tanks and 43 kg of compressed air in the cylinders of oxygen supply.
In connection with the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Nizhny Novgorod in 2021, as well as within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Roscosmos State Corporation and the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, this rocket has been marked with the symbols of the celebration of this event.
In addition, within the framework of cooperation between the State Corporation Roscosmos and the Public Joint Stock Company Sberbank of Russia, the SBER logo was applied to the flaps of the head fairing in honor of the 180th anniversary of Sberbank, which will be celebrated on November 12.
The Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle is a three-stage medium-class rocket, which is a modified version (modernization stage - 1a) of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle. Designed to support launches of military, national and social spacecraft.
The launch vehicle was designed and manufactured at the Progress Rocket and Space Center (Samara, part of the Roscosmos State Corporation). It is equipped with a new digital control system, common for all three stages, as well as a new digital radio telemetry measurement system. The installation of a digital control system on the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle increased the launch accuracy, stability and controllability of the launch vehicle, and made it possible to use large fairings.
All engines of the launch vehicle worked in the normal mode, including engines of the RD-107/108 family of the first and second stages, developed at the Scientific and Production Association "Energomash" named after Academician V.P. Glushko (part of Roskosmos), and the third stage RD-0110 engine, created at the Voronezh rocket engine building center (also a Roscosmos enterprise).
Related links:
ROSCOSMOS Press Release: https://www.roscosmos.ru/33133/
MCC: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/cup/
RSC Energia: https://www.roscosmos.ru/tag/rkk-ehnergija/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS/RSC Energia/MCC/SciNews/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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