Soyuz Launches Progress To Resupply Mir

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Soyuz Launches Progress To Resupply Mir

A Progress M1-2 cargo spacecraft was launched successfully from pad LC 1 at Baikonur Cosmodrome by a Soyuz U rocket at 1:08 p.m. PDT (2008:02 UTC) April 25 on a resupply mission to the Mir space station. Mir is currently orbiting with a perigee of 329.4 km (178 nmi), and apogee of 353 km (191 nmi), in a 51.6° inclination. The Progress M1-2 is scheduled to arrive at the station's rear docking port, located on the Kvant-1 module, at 2:30 p.m. PDT (2130 UTC) April 27. The 7,250 kg (15,979 lbm) Progress spacecraft is ferrying 2,073 kg (4,750 lbm) of supplies, equipment and other material to the space station. It is also carrying air and propellant for Mir. The Progress' engines/thrusters will be used for burns to raise the space station's orbit.

The Progress M1-1 currently docked with the space station is scheduled to undock from Mir 9:30 a.m. PDT (1630 UTC) April 26. Progress M1-1 will then be commanded to make a controlled destructive reentry in the Earth's atmosphere.

MirCorp President, Jeffrey Manbar reports, "There were no funds provided from any government for the launch of Progress M1-2 to Mir." The launch was funded by MirCorp and RSC Energia, the partnership trying to restart Mir for commercial ventures in the future. MirCorp's has plans to use the station as a space tourism destination, allowing tourists to spend a week in orbit at a price of US$30 million dollars (Euros 32.6 million). However, the Russian space agency reports that if new financing is not raised, Mir could be deorbited as early as October of this year.

More information:

Soyuz Data Sheet

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April 26, 2000