Progress MS-11
Progress MS-11, identified by NASA as Progress 72P, was a Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station. This was the 163rd flight of a Progress spacecraft.
History
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:- 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 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 .
- Replacement of the Kurs A with Kurs NA digital system.
Pre-launch
Launch
Progress MS-11 launched on 4 April 2019, at 11:01:34 UTC from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It used a Soyuz-2.1a rocket.Docking
Progress MS-11 docked with the docking port of the Pirs module just 3 hours and 22 minutes after the launch, at 14:22:26 UTC.Cargo
The Progress MS-11 spacecraft delivered 3,400 kg of cargo, with 1,400 kg of this being dry cargo.The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:
- Dry cargo: 1,400 kg
- Fuel: 900 kg
- Compressed Air: 47 kg
- Water: 420 kg