Contents

Progress MS-13

Progress MS-13

Progress MS-13 approaches the ISS
Names	Progress 74P
Mission type	ISS resupply
Operator	Roscosmos
COSPAR ID	2019-085A
SATCAT no.	44833
Mission duration	215 days, 12 hours, 30 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Progress MS-13 s/n 443
Spacecraft type	Progress-MS
Manufacturer	RKK Energia
Launch mass	7280 kg
Payload mass	2480 kg
Start of mission
Launch date	6 December 2019, 09:34:11 UTC
Rocket	Soyuz-2.1a s/n N15000-034
Launch site	Baikonur, Site 31/6
Contractor	Progress Rocket Space Centre
End of mission
Disposal	Deorbited
Decay date	8 July 2020, 22:05 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Inclination	51.66°
Docking with ISS
Docking port	Pirs
Docking date	9 December 2019, 10:35:11 UTC[1]
Undocking date	8 July 2020, 18:22 UTC
Time docked	212 days, 7 hours, 46 minutes [2]
Cargo
Mass	2480 kg
Pressurised	1350 kg
Fuel	650 kg
Gaseous	50 kg
Water	420 kg
Progress ISS Resupply ← Progress MS-12 Progress MS-14 →

Progress MS-13 (Russian: Прогресс МC-13), Russian production No. 443, identified by NASAasProgress 74P, was a Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station.^[2] This was the 165th flight of a Progress spacecraft.

History[edit]

The Progress-MS is an uncrewed freighter based on the Progress-M featuring improved avionics. This improved variant first launched on 21 December 2015. It has the following improvements:^[3][4][5]

• New external compartment that enables it to deploy satellites. Each compartment can hold up to four launch containers. First time installed on Progress MS-03.
• Enhanced redundancy thanks to the addition of a backup system of electrical motors for the docking and sealing mechanism.
• Improved Micrometeoroid (MMOD) protection with additional panels in the cargo compartment.
• Luch Russian relay satellites link capabilities enable telemetry and control even when not in direct view of ground radio stations.
• GNSS autonomous navigation enables real time determination of the status vector and orbital parameters dispensing with the need of ground station orbit determination.
• Real time relative navigation thanks to direct radio data exchange capabilities with the space station.
• New digital radio that enables enhanced TV camera view for the docking operations.
• The Ukrainian Chezara Kvant-V on board radio system and antenna/feeder system has been replaced with a Unified Command Telemetry System (UCTS).
• Replacement of the Kurs A with Kurs NA digital system.

Pre-launch[edit]

In 2014, the launch was originally scheduled for 16 October 2018, but in September 2019, it was rescheduled to 20 December 2019. This was then moved ahead to 6 December 2019.^[2]

Launch[edit]

Progress MS-13 was launched on 6 December 2019 at 09:34:11 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome, from the Site 31/6.^[6]

Docking[edit]

To avoid docking with the ISS at the same time as SpaceX CRS-19, Progress MS-13 followed a slow three-day rendezvous trajectory rather than the fast-track three hour trajectory used on Progress MS-12. Progress MS-13 docked with the Pirs module at 10:38 UTC on 9 December 2019.^[7]

Cargo[edit]

The Progress MS-13 spacecraft delivered 2480 kg of cargo, with 1350 kg being pressurized and 1130 kg being unpressurized. The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:^[2]

• Hardware for onboard systems: 502 kg (1,107 lb)
• Medical supplies: 29 kg (64 lb)
• Personal protective gear: 66 kg (146 lb)
• Sanitary and hygiene items: 271 kg (597 lb)
• Repairs and servicing equipment: 9 kg (20 lb)
• Food: 271 kg (597 lb)
• Means of crew support: 25 kg (55 lb)
• Other payloads: 102 kg (225 lb)
• NASA cargo: 87 kg (192 lb)

Mission[edit]

On 3 July 2020 at 15:53 UTC, Progress MS-13 fired its engines to raise the International Space Station orbit 1 km for debris collision avoidance (COLA). This was the first COLA burn for International Space Station since 2015. The debris object 27923 (1987-079AG) was predicted to pass within 1 km of the station at 18:28 UTC on 3 July 2020 over the South Atlantic. The object was one of 42 cataloged from the 1996 breakup of a motor from Proton launcher in September 1987 that put three Glonass satellites in orbit.^[8]

Undocking and decay[edit]

According to Roskosmos, the vehicle undocked from the International Space Station on 8 July 2020, at 18:22 UTC. The Russian mission control commanded Progress MS-13 to fire its propulsion system on 8 July 2020, at 21:31 UTC. The maneuver resulted in the reentry of the spacecraft over a region of the Pacific Ocean at 22:05 on 8 July 2020. Eight minutes later, any surviving debris of the spacecraft were projected to hit the surface of the ocean, around 1800 km east of New Zealand.^[2]

The departure of Progress MS-13 freed the docking port Pirs for the arrival of the fresh Progress MS-15 cargo ship;^[2] Progress MS-15 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 23 July 2020.^{[citation needed]}

See also[edit]

• Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station

References[edit]

^ "NASA Progress MS-13". NSSDCA. NASA. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.