FAILURE: Progress MS-04 - Soyuz-U - Baikonur - December 1, 2016

[Satori]

Russia will launch another Progress MS cargo vehicle to ISS on December 1, 2016.

[Satori]

Progress MS-04 logistics spacecraft received authorization to proceed with fuelling

November 17, 2016
Today, November 17, the technical management and the state commission at the Baikonur launch site have confirmed the readiness of the cargo transportation spacecraft Progress MS-04 for filling with propellant components and compressed gases.

According to the decision announced as a result of the meeting, authorization to proceed with operations at the filling station was given with regard to the integrated propulsion system and the refueling system of the logistics spacecraft. The filling station equipment is ready for the operations.

The launch of the cargo spacecraft Progress MS-04 under the International Space Station (ISS) program is scheduled for December 1, 2016. The spacecraft will deliver to the ISS about 2.5 tons of various cargos, including dry cargo, propellant in the tanks of the integrated propulsion system and the refueling system, water and compressed gases.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss50/progress_ms-04/photo_11-17.html

[Satori]

RSC Energia: Fueling of Progress MS-04 cargo transport vehicle complete

November 22, 2016

RSC Energia specialists at the Baikonur launch site have successfully completed operations to fill Progress MS-04 cargo spacecraft with propellant components and compressed gases at the filling station.

After filling the spacecraft was transported by rail to the spacecraft processing facility and installed into a jig for further pre-launch processing.

The launch of Progress MS-04 under the International Space Station (ISS) program is scheduled for December 1, 2016. The spacecraft will deliver to the ISS about 2.5 tons of various cargo, including “dry” cargo, propellant in UPS tanks and refueling systems, water and compressed gases.

http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss50/progress_ms-04/photo_11-22.html

[Satori]

Progress MS-04 was already docked to the transfer compartment and designers inspection took place. The vehicle was then inserted inside the payload fairing.

Transfer to MIK 112 will follow.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/progress_ms-04/photo_11-25.html (in Russian)

[Satori]

And more images from Roscosmos at http://www.roscosmos.ru/22963/ (in Russian).

[SMS]

[wally]

Will this Progress finally use the express route to ISS docking? Or it's another mission that takes the classic long route to ISS?

[Olaf]

Will this Progress finally use the express route to ISS docking? Or it's another mission that takes the classic long route to ISS?

According to http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic12565/?PAGEN_1=35 the classic long  route.

1 декабря 17:51:51 - запуск Прогресса МС-04"
3 декабря 19:43 - стыковка "Прогресса МС-04" к модулю "Звезда"

[wally]

Blast! Any reason why? They need more time for systems validation? I suspect that Soyus MS waits for Progress MS to get on the express route, so it will be a while until we'll see the crew docking again after just a few hours.

[Olaf]

Blast! Any reason why? They need more time for systems validation? I suspect that Soyus MS waits for Progress MS to get on the express route, so it will be a while until we'll see the crew docking again after just a few hours.

http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-ms-03-docking/

Soyuz MS-03 had to take the long way round, sticking to the conventional 34-orbit rendezvous profile taking two days from launch to docking.
This profile had to be used by all Soyuz MS flights to date because the ground system is not yet ready to support a six-hour, four-orbit launch-to-docking mission. To accomplish an express docking, the Soyuz has to receive updated flight parameters based on its actual insertion orbit shortly after launch – requiring a ground station compatible with the new Unified Command and Control System of the Soyuz MS spacecraft.
This station, located near the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east, recently finished outfitting and was to be tested on Friday when Soyuz MS-03 passed overhead to verify the S-Band uplink could be received by the spacecraft to clear the ground station for operational use. If declared operational, the ground station will be used on all subsequent Progress and Soyuz mission to provide several minutes of data connectivity in the minutes after orbital insertion as the vehicle heads over Russia and out over the Pacific on their first lap around Earth.

[Targeteer]

If the Russian version of TDRS was actually working, wouldn't concern about ground stations disappear?

[Satori]

Progress MS-04 was already docked to the transfer compartment and designers inspection took place. The vehicle was then inserted inside the payload fairing.

Transfer to MIK 112 will follow.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/progress_ms-04/photo_11-25.html (in Russian)

The same information but now in English: http://www.energia.ru/en/iss/iss50/progress_ms-04/photo_11-25.html

[Nicolas PILLET]

If the Russian version of TDRS was actually working, wouldn't concern about ground stations disappear?

The Russian version of TDRS is actually working...

[Satori]

Orbital Module with Progress MS-04 was transported to the MIK 112 for general integration with its launcher.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/iss/iss50/progress_ms-04/photo_11-27.html (in Russian)

[input~2]

J2692/16 -  ATS RTE SEGMENT CLSD: B156 KUDEB - BOKIS. SFC - UNL, 01 1450-1540, 02 1425-1510, 01 DEC 14:50 2016 UNTIL 02 DEC 15:10 2016. CREATED: 24 NOV 07:17 2016

J2731/16 -  RESTRICTED AREA ACT: UNR1236. GND - UNL, 01 1450-1540 02 1425-1510, 01 DEC 14:50 2016 UNTIL 02 DEC 15:10 2016. CREATED: 27 NOV 03:58 2016

[EgorBotts]

Blast! Any reason why? They need more time for systems validation? I suspect that Soyus MS waits for Progress MS to get on the express route, so it will be a while until we'll see the crew docking again after just a few hours.

http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-ms-03-docking/

Soyuz MS-03 had to take the long way round, sticking to the conventional 34-orbit rendezvous profile taking two days from launch to docking.
This profile had to be used by all Soyuz MS flights to date because the ground system is not yet ready to support a six-hour, four-orbit launch-to-docking mission. To accomplish an express docking, the Soyuz has to receive updated flight parameters based on its actual insertion orbit shortly after launch – requiring a ground station compatible with the new Unified Command and Control System of the Soyuz MS spacecraft.
This station, located near the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east, recently finished outfitting and was to be tested on Friday when Soyuz MS-03 passed overhead to verify the S-Band uplink could be received by the spacecraft to clear the ground station for operational use. If declared operational, the ground station will be used on all subsequent Progress and Soyuz mission to provide several minutes of data connectivity in the minutes after orbital insertion as the vehicle heads over Russia and out over the Pacific on their first lap around Earth.

Not only this, but the 6h maneuver needs a Progress vessel to be docked on the rear of the zvezda module, right? Because the ISS has to perform a small change of altitude. Progress MS-03 is no able to perform the maneuver and would have to be relocated.

[Nicolas PILLET]

Not only this, but the 6h maneuver needs a Progress vessel to be docked on the rear of the zvezda module, right?

No. They can dock to any Russian docking port, with or without the quick rendez-vous profile.

[baldusi]

Not only this, but the 6h maneuver needs a Progress vessel to be docked on the rear of the zvezda module, right?

No. They can dock to any Russian docking port, with or without the quick rendez-vous profile.

I think he meant the requirement to supply impulse to the ISS for DAMs and orbit correction without using the FGB's thrusters/propellant.

[EgorBotts]

Not only this, but the 6h maneuver needs a Progress vessel to be docked on the rear of the zvezda module, right?

No. They can dock to any Russian docking port, with or without the quick rendez-vous profile.

I think he meant the requirement to supply impulse to the ISS for DAMs and orbit correction without using the FGB's thrusters/propellant.

Yes that's what I meant. I actually don't know if the short rendez-vous has already been done with only FGB thrusters. I thought the ISS fuel supplies were kept in case of emergencies and thus, only Progress could perform the maneuver (then requiring one Progress on Zvezda's rear docking port).

[anik]

Nicolas, am I alone, who does not understand what they are talking about?