Progress MS-23 cargo spacecraft successfully launched to the ISS from Baikonur

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-23 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) was successful from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, informed Telegram channel of Roscosmos.

“The launch of the Progress MS-23 into a given orbit, its separation from the third stage of the rocket, the opening of the antennas and solar panels of the ship were normal,” the message says.

As expected, the ship will make two orbits around the Earth, after which it will dock with the Poisk module of the ISS at 19:21 Moscow time. During the flight, Progress will cover about 90,000 km. In total, it will stay in orbit for 189 days. The ships of the Progress family are designed to deliver cargo to orbital stations, refuel them with fuel, correct orbital heights and remove debris from them.

Earlier on May 22, American SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 launch vehicle with the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS. Four people were on board: NASA astronaut and veteran spaceflight Peggy Whitson, entrepreneur John Schoffner, and Saudi Arabian astronauts Ali al-Karni and Ryan Barnawi. The astronauts will spend about two weeks on the ISS and will participate in the work of the station.

At the end of April at NASA reportedthat all countries participating in the ISS program supported the extension of its operation after 2024. Russia confirmed that it would support the operation of the ISS until 2028, they specified.

The ISS was put into orbit in 1998. Astronauts from different countries work on the station, including Russia, the USA, Japan, Canada, Germany, etc. They conduct experiments that could not be carried out on Earth, including space exploration, research in the field of biology , physiology, etc.