On February 15, Russia launched an automated cargo-carrying spacecraft to the International Space Station, carrying three tons of food and other goods.
A Soyuz-2.1a rocket launched the Progress MS-26 carrier into orbit in the early hours of local time Thursday, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
The Russian cargo-carrying spacecraft also delivered about 1,300 pounds of fuel, 110 pounds of potable water and nearly 90 pounds of compressed nitrogen in canisters.
The space cargo carrier is expected to reach the ISS on Saturday and link up with the Zvezda module after blasting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday evening.
Progress joins SpaceX’s Dragon and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus as the only unmanned carriers to transfer goods and experiments to the International Space Station. While the Progress and Cygnus were designed to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere upon return, the Dragon can be reused.
On February 1, Cygnus delivered 8,200 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station. One of the experiments included various tests of 3D printers in microgravity, especially in the manufacture of small metal products.
The benefits of 3D printers are considered valuable for future travel such as long-term stays on the Moon and trips to Mars where astronauts may need to fabricate items on site.
According to NASA, more than 260 individuals from 20 countries have visited the International Space Station since the first long-stay citizen in 2000.
2024-02-15 15:11:52
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