Russia’s Progress MS-31 resupply ship reaches orbit, heading to ISS
MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) – The Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle has placed the Progress MS-31 resupply ship bound for the International Space Station (ISS) into orbit, a Roscosmos livestream shows.
The Progress MS-31 separated from the rocket’s upper stage and embarked on a two-day rendezvous trip to the ISS.
The resupply ship is scheduled to dock to the Poisk module of the ISS’ Russian segment at 00:28 a.m. Moscow time on July 6. It will stay in orbit for about 167 days, according to Roscosmos.
Roscosmos said in its materials for the launch that the Progress MS-31 will revolve around the Earth 34 times during its flight, which will take 50 hours.
The resupply ship will deliver more than 2.6 tonnes of cargo to the ISS, including 1,205 kilograms of dry cargo for Expedition 73, 950 kilograms of fuel to refill the station, 420 kilograms of drinking water for the cosmonauts, and 50 kilograms of nitrogen to replenish the station’s atmosphere.
The Progress MS-31 will also bring equipment for the Virtual, Biodegradation, Fullerene, Biopolymer, Impulse and Mirage experiments to the ISS.