Roscosmos Cargo Craft Approaching Station Live on NASA TV
The Progress 86 cargo craft approaches the International Space Station on Dec. 3, 2023, to resupply the Expedition 70 crew.
NASA’s live coverage of rendezvous and docking is now underway on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA+ through a variety of platforms including social media.
The unpiloted Progress 89 spacecraft launched at 11:20 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Aug. 14 (8:20 a.m. Baikonur time, Thursday, Aug. 15), on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Short Day for Crew Before Roscosmos Cargo Craft Arrives
The Progress 88 resupply ship approaches the space station on June 1, 2024, packed with about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 71 crew.
NASA Flight Engineer Tracy C. Dyson started her day installing 3D-mapping gear on the Astrobee robotic free-flying assistant in the Kibo laboratory module. The cube-shaped, toaster-sized Astrobee will use the imaging device’s lasers and lenses to autonomously navigate and maneuver on the station and conduct docking operations. Afterward, she powered up the KERMIT state-of-the-art microscope in the Destiny laboratory module and imaged stem cell samples for a cancer treatment investigation.
NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick reviewed emergency procedures in the unlikely event it would be necessary to evacuate the orbital outpost and undock in the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. Next, he joined Dyson, Barratt, and Epps for a half-hour space-to-ground conference with specialists and discussed methods to counteract the effects of living in space for months at a time.
The space station’s three cosmonauts went to bed early on Friday to get ready for the overnight arrival of the Progress 89 resupply ship. Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub called down to flight controllers and discussed their readiness for the cargo mission’s arrival. The duo will be on duty monitoring Progress’ arrival as it approaches the aft port on the space station’s Zvezda service module for an automated docking at 1:56 a.m. EDT on Saturday. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin spent his morning cleaning ventilation systems and water tanks before completing his short shift inspecting electrical components inside the Nauka science module.
Space Delivery Launches to Station; Crew Studies Stem Cells, Works Life Support
An aurora radiates brightly above the Indian Ocean as the International Space Station soared 270 miles above the Earth’s surface.
A Roscosmos cargo craft is orbiting Earth today packed with nearly three tons of cargo to resupply the International Space Station. Meanwhile, the orbital residents stayed focused on more cargo work, space biology, and lab maintenance on Thursday.
The Roscosmos Progress 89 space freighter launched at 11:20 p.m. EDT on Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan beginning a two-day space delivery to the orbital outpost. Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub will be on duty monitoring Progress when it completes its automated approach and docking 1:56 a.m. on Saturday. Progress will remain docked to the aft port of the Zvezda service module for six months of cargo operations.
NASA Flight Engineer Tracy C. Dyson continued her weeklong stem cell studies treating samples inside the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Science Glovebox. She was helping doctors develop improved cell therapies for Earth and advance cellular manufacturing in space.
Life support work commanded a large portion of the day on Thursday as NASA astronauts Mike Barratt, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams serviced a variety of advanced atmospheric and water hardware. Barratt and Wilmore took turns working on the carbon dioxide removal assembly checking it for leaks and configuring it for reinstallation. Williams installed experimental water recovery hardware in the Microgravity Science Glovebox to explore how microgravity affects water purification, fuel cells, and heating and cooling systems to benefit both Earth and space applications.
Kononenko and Chub are relaxing today before their Friday schedule to get ready for Progress’ arrival early Saturday. However, Kononenko wrapped up a 24-hour heart and blood pressure monitoring session then handed over sensors to Chub so he could begin his health data collection session. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin started his morning transferring water out of the Progress 88 cargo craft into station water tanks. He then spent the rest of his shift servicing air conditioning systems and filling an oxygen generator.
Progress Cargo Craft Headed to Station Following Successful Launch
The Progress 89 cargo craft launches to the space station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 11:20 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Aug. 14. Credit: NASA TV
The unpiloted Roscosmos Progress 89 spacecraft is headed for the International Space Station following a launch at 11:20 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Aug. 14 (8:20 a.m. Baikonur time, Thursday, Aug. 15), on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
After a two-day in-orbit journey to the station, the spacecraft will automatically dock to the aft port of the orbiting laboratory’s Zvezda Service module at 1:56 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17.
NASA’s coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 1 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA+ through a variety of platforms including social media.
The spacecraft will deliver about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the space station.
Live NASA Coverage Underway of Progress Cargo Craft Launch
The Progress 86 cargo craft is pictured approaching the space station’s Poisk module on Dec. 3, 2023.
NASA’s live launch coverage is underway on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA+ through a variety of platforms including social media.
The unpiloted Progress 89 spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 11:20 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Aug. 14 (8:20 a.m. Baikonur time, Thursday, Aug. 15), on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Roscosmos spacecraft will liftoff carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 71 crew aboard the International Space Station.
After a two-day in-orbit journey to the station, the spacecraft will automatically dock to the aft port of the orbiting laboratory’s Zvezda Service module at 1:56 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17. NASA’s coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 1 a.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
