The Progress MS-31 cargo spacecraft has been successfully placed into orbit after separating from the third stage of the Soyuz-2.1a rocket. The launch of the vehicle took place on Thursday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The rocket carrying the spacecraft lifted off at 22:32 Moscow time on July 3. The flight to the International Space Station is expected to take more than two days, with docking to the Poisk module of the Russian ISS segment scheduled for 0:28 Moscow time on July 6. The total planned orbital mission duration for the cargo ship is 167 days.
Progress MS-31 is transporting over 2.6 tons of supplies to the station. This cargo includes fuel for refueling, nitrogen to replenish the station`s atmosphere, drinking water, food provisions, clothing, as well as hygiene and medical supplies for the crew.
Additionally, the spacecraft is delivering equipment and consumables necessary for further outfitting and repair work on the station. The manifest also includes apparatus and materials for various scientific experiments with names such as `Impulse`, `Mirage`, `Fullerene`, `Biopolymer`, `Virtual`, `Splanchn`, `Biodegradation`, `Orbita-MG`, and `Separation`.
Currently, there are two other Russian spacecraft docked to the station. The Progress MS-30 cargo ship has been attached to the Zvezda module since March 2. The crewed Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, which brought Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, along with American astronaut Johnny Kim, to the ISS on April 8, is docked to the Prichal node module.
