So there is only one contract for four rockets at the moment.
The tender for four 2-1A rockets was raised in July 2012, contract signed August 2012.
1st delivery was scheduled for June 2014, for the launch of Progress-MS № 432, scheduled for launch in October 2014.
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/events_journal/show?notificationId=3885879
So any earlier possible use of 2-1A is incorrect?
Yes. You can do us a favor and calculate the increased cost of using 2-1A vs Soyuz-U for Progress, to see if there is a significant difference. We could then figure out the launch cost of flying the additional 400 kg of payload.
So there is only one contract for four rockets at the moment.
The tender for four 2-1A rockets was raised in July 2012, contract signed August 2012.
1st delivery was scheduled for June 2014, for the launch of Progress-MS № 432, scheduled for launch in October 2014.
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/events_journal/show?notificationId=3885879
So any earlier possible use of 2-1A is incorrect?
Yes. You can do us a favor and calculate the increased cost of using 2-1A vs Soyuz-U for Progress, to see if there is a significant difference. We could then figure out the launch cost of flying the additional 400 kg of payload.
2014 - Soyuz-U 685,047,000 ruble - Soyuz-FG 742,880,000 ruble - Soyuz-2-1A
0,939,502,000 ruble
2015 - Soyuz-U 737,558,000 ruble - Soyuz-FG 799,466,000 ruble - Soyuz-2-1A 1,019,087,000 ruble
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=3194165http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17286.msg1052136#msg1052136
In an earlier post, I mentioned that if the Progress for this mission is not loaded with an extra 400 kg of cargo, that the launch vehicle may have trouble with the stages not hitting the standard drop zones for Progress launches (due to the extra capacity of the Soyuz 2-1a LV.
What I didn't mention is that if the Progress does not carry additional cargo, the upper stage could be ballasted to make sure that the LV trajectory is nominal for a Progress mission.
My opinion is that this Progress will be loaded with 2900 kg of cargo.
In an earlier post, I mentioned that if the Progress for this mission is not loaded with an extra 400 kg of cargo, that the launch vehicle may have trouble with the stages not hitting the standard drop zones for Progress launches (due to the extra capacity of the Soyuz 2-1a LV.
What I didn't mention is that if the Progress does not carry additional cargo, the upper stage could be ballasted to make sure that the LV trajectory is nominal for a Progress mission.
My opinion is that this Progress will be loaded with 2900 kg of cargo.
One unknown is the type of fairing.
The tender for transportation of the rocket to the launch site, unlike those for Soyuz-U, does not specify.
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=7498081
Acording to my classification, Progress M-25M will be the 350th Soviet/Russian spaceship to attempt to reach orbit !
18 Vostok/Voskhod, 146 Soyuz, 147 Progress, 7 BOR, 1 Buran, 15 L1, 1 LOK, 3 T2K, 8 VA, 3 TKS.
OK, I admit that BOR and T2K are not really "spaceships"... That's just for the fun of statistics !
Acording to my classification, Progress M-25M will be the 350th Soviet/Russian spaceship to attempt to reach orbit !
18 Vostok/Voskhod, 146 Soyuz, 147 Progress, 7 BOR, 1 Buran, 15 L1, 1 LOK, 3 T2K, 8 VA, 3 TKS.
OK, I admit that BOR and T2K are not really "spaceships"... That's just for the fun of statistics !
I wouldn't consider Progress a space ship. The re-entry mode is quite different... ;-)
The launch is now scheduled at 07:09:48 UTC on October 29. The Soyuz-2 rocket was delivered to Baikonur in late July.
<OT mode>Warning for those trying to get launch times from Russian sources - apparently Russia has reversed the decision made 3 years ago and reinstate DST, so from October 26 onwards Moscow time is once again UTC+3 this winter.
</OT mode>
Hmm Energia's website writes that it still will be lofted by a Soyuz-U rocket. Typo?
Energia info is out of date at this time. Originally this flight was on Soyuz-U but the Soyuz-U was already flown a few missions ago due to remaining manned certification tasks and ROSCOSMOS approvals. These flights do not require Fregat and as result was cleared to proceed with the flight following conclusion of the Soyuz-2 series investigation.
October 16, 2014
A meeting of the Technical management
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
The Technical Management meeting took place, which made a decision to fuel Progress M-25M cargo vehicle with propellant components and compressed gases.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss41/progress_m-25m/photo_10-16.html
October 19, 2014
Progress M-25M cargo vehicle was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
Progress M-25M cargo vehicle fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss41/progress_m-25m/photo_10-19.html
October 22, 2014
A transfer compartment was docked with Progress M-25M cargo vehicle
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
Progress M-25M transport cargo vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss41/progress_m-25m/photo_10-22.html
October 22, 2014
NASA TV Broadcasts Space Station Cargo Ship Activities
NASA Television will broadcast live the launch and docking Wednesday, Oct. 29.
The Progress 57 resupply ship will launch at 3:09 a.m. Oct. 29 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (1:09 p.m. Baikonur time), with almost three tons of food, fuel and supplies for the station's Expedition 41 crew. Launch coverage begins at 2:45 a.m. Progress 57 will make its four-orbit, six-hour trip to the space station and dock at 9:09 a.m. Docking coverage will begin at 8:30 a.m.
The NASA Television schedule is available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatvFor more information about the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
October 23, 2014
Designers inspection of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle and payload shroud roll were performed
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
Designers inspection of the Progress M-25M cargo vehicle was completed.
Payload shroud roll on to the Progress M-25M cargo vehicle was performed.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss41/progress_m-25m/photo_10-23.html
October 24, 2014
The orbital module of the LV Soyuz-2.1a with CV Progress M-25M transportation for the general integration with LV
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
Orbital module of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle, containing Progress M-25M spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.
http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss41/progress_m-25m/photo_10-24.html
October 26, 2014
LV Soyuz general integration is completed
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
Orbital module of the Soyuz-2.1 launch vehicle, containing Progress M-25M spacecraft was integrated with the Soyuz-2.1 launch vehicle in the processing facility.
October 26, 2014
Technical management meeting and Government Commission meeting were convened
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-25M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
Technical management meeting and Government Commission meeting were convened. A decision is made to roll out Soyuz-2.1 launch vehicle with Progress M-25M transport vehicle to the launch pad.
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