Soyuz-2.1a - Progress MS-26 - February 15, 2024 (03:25 UTC)

[Alter Sachse]

Progress MS-26 cargo ship departed for Baikonur
At the RKK Energia S.P. Korolev test station, the initial stage of the factory control tests of the Progress MS-26 transport cargo spacecraft has been completed. Today the spacecraft was sent to the Baikonur Cosmodrome technical complex to continue routine training in accordance with the schedule of transport support for the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS).
During the spring of 2023 Progress MS-26 underwent the full cycle of onboard systems, service equipment and hardware autonomous testing. After completing comprehensive, pneumovacuum and acceptance tests, specialists of the Experimental Machine Building Plant, which is part of RSC Energia, performed the exit control procedure and loaded the spacecraft into the railroad transport unit for shipment to Baikonur.

source Energia

[Alter Sachse]

Roscosmos:
The Baikonur Cosmodrome has completed leak tests of the Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft in the vacuum chamber of the assembly and test building of pad 254.

Specialists of S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and Yuzhny Space Center of the Ground Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation Center (part of Roscosmos State Corporation) performed pneumatic vacuum tests of the spacecraft. Automated control of tightness of compartments and on-board systems of Progress MS-26 in ground conditions passed without remarks.

Today the spacecraft was returned to the workplace and connected to the ground test equipment to continue preparations for launch to the International Space Station.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with the Progress MS-26 spacecraft is scheduled for February 15, 2024.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Not sure where the time comes from, but Novosti-Kosmonavtiki (https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=22489.0) has the launch time as 03:25:07 UTC on February 15.

(I also vaguely remember NASA, IIRC during the AX-3 pre-launch briefing, saying this launch will occur on February 14 in the US, which fits with this launch time)

[zubenelgenubi]

Not sure where the time comes from, but Novosti-Kosmonavtiki (https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=22489.0) has the launch time as 03:25:07 UTC on February 15.

(I also vaguely remember NASA, IIRC during the AX-3 pre-launch briefing, saying this launch will occur on February 14 in the US, which fits with this launch time)

Crew-8 launch thread:

Mission Overview

A mission overview news conference will begin at 1 p.m. EST and cover NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the microgravity laboratory and Expeditions 70/71. A crew news conference will start at 2:30 p.m., followed by individual astronaut interviews at 3:30 p.m.

From the press conference:
<snip>
Russian Progress launches on February 14 evening CST = February 15 MST. (combining information from Joel Montalbano and Sergei Krikalev)
<snip>
Edited

[Alter Sachse]

Specialists of the branch of JSC TsENKI - Yuzhny Research and Development Center together with specialists of JSC RSC Progress continue preparations for the launch of the Progress MS-26 transport cargo spacecraft.
At present, the "package" of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle has been assembled.

Technological operations were carried out in the assembly and test building of the technical complex of site No. 31.

After completion of assembly operations, the joint team of specialists will continue to perform work in accordance with the launch preparation schedule.

The launch of Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with Progress MS-26 to the ISS is scheduled for February 15, 2024 from Baikonur Cosmodrome.


source TsENKI/ roscosmos

[Alter Sachse]

https://vk.com/wall-30315369_569114

[Steven Pietrobon]

https://vk.com/wall-30315369_569114

"Roscosmos
yesterday at 9:39 am
🔴 There are 15 days until the start of the new Progress MS-26 truck!

A "package" of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle for launch has already been assembled.

These are the first and second stages of the carrier - five blocks: one central and four lateral. Ahead is the preparation for the start according to the schedule.

📸 Photo: Yuzhny Space Center"

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1755083292938776672

I have Progress T-0 at 10:25pm EST on 2/14; docking at 2:11am on 2/17 (= 07:11 UTC)

[Alter Sachse]

https://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/news/203483/

Today, specialists of the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and other enterprises of Roscosmos State Corporation docked the Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft with the transition compartment in the assembly and test building of pad 254 at Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The transition compartment is a part of the space head unit, providing mechanical connection of the spacecraft with the head fairing and the third stage of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle, integration of the spacecraft command interface into the onboard control system of the rocket.
The docking operations were completed with the verification switching on the onboard equipment of the command and telemetry system and preparation of Progress MS-26 for author's inspection, Roscosmos reports.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Alter Sachse]

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.russian.space/press-tsentr/novosti/na-baykonure-gruzovoy-korabl-progress-ms-26-sostykovali-s-perekhodnym-otsekom.html

..."The ship will carry 2,518 kg of cargo to the International Space Station, including 1,478 kg of hardware and equipment for the station's systems, stowage for scientific experiments, clothing, food, medical and sanitation supplies for the crews of the 70th and 71st long-duration expeditions, 580 kg of fuel for refueling the station, 420 kg of drinking water and 40 kg of nitrogen."

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.russian.space/press-tsentr/novosti/na-baykonure-na-gruzovoy-korabl-progress-ms-26-nakatili-golovnoy-obtekatel.html

Today in the assembly and test building of the 254th site of Baikonur cosmodrome specialists of S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and other enterprises of the State Corporation Roscosmos performed an author's inspection of the Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft and rolled the head fairing on it.
After completion of the launch readiness control set, the spacecraft as part of the space head unit was prepared for transportation to the assembly and test building of pad 31 for general assembly with the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with the Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft is scheduled for February 15, 2024.

The spacecraft will carry 2,518 kg of cargo to the International Space Station, including 1,478 kg of hardware and equipment for the station's systems, stowage for scientific experiments, clothing, food, medical and sanitation supplies for the crews of the 70th and 71st long-duration expeditions, 580 kg of fuel for refueling the station, 420 kg of drinking water and 40 kg of nitrogen.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.russian.space/press-tsentr/novosti/na-baykonure-korabl-progress-ms-8209-26-otpravlen-na-sborku-s-raketoy-nositelem-soyuz-8209-2-1a.html

"Today at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the Progress MS-26 cargo ship as part of the space head part was transported from the assembly and test building of pad 254 to the assembly and test building of pad 31 for general assembly with the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle.
Prior to shipment, specialists of the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and other enterprises of Roscosmos State Corporation loaded the space head into a railroad transportation unit."

[Alter Sachse]

03:25:06 UTC

"Launch - February 15 at 06:25:06 Moscow time"

https://vk.com/roscosmos?w=wall-30315369_569155

[Alter Sachse]

Current photos

[Alter Sachse]

https://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/news/203514/

The Soyuz-2.1a LV with the Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft was taken to the launch complex at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The rocket was installed in the vertical position at pad 31 of the cosmodrome. Work has begun according to the schedule of the first launch day.
The launch is scheduled for February 15 at 03:25:06 UTC (06:25:06 Moscow time).

[Alter Sachse]

More photos

[Alter Sachse]

https://vk.com/roscosmos?z=photo-30315369_457367048%2Fwall-30315369_569163

[Alter Sachse]

...and more

[Targeteer]

Feb. 12, 2024

MEDIA ADVISORY: M24-024

NASA to Provide Coverage of Progress 87 Launch, Space Station Docking

NASA will provide live coverage of the launch and docking of a Roscosmos cargo spacecraft carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the crew aboard the International Space Station.

The unpiloted Progress 87 resupply spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 10:25 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 14 (8:25 a.m. Baikonur time Thursday, Feb. 15), on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Live coverage will begin at 10 p.m. on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.

The Progress spacecraft will be placed into an orbit for a two-day journey to the space station, culminating in an automatic docking to the aft port of the Zvezda service module at 1:12 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. NASA coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 12:30 a.m.

The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that enables research not possible on Earth. For more than 23 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory, through which astronauts have learned to live and work in space for extended periods of time. The space station is a springboard for the development of a low Earth orbit economy and NASA’s next great leaps in exploration, including missions to the Moon under Artemis and ultimately, human exploration of Mars.

Learn more about the space station, its research, and crew, at:

https://www.nasa.gov/station