Progress 4 Explained

Progress 4
Mission Type:Salyut 6 resupply
Operator:OKB-1
Cospar Id:1978-090A
Satcat:11040 [1]
Mission Duration:23 days
Spacecraft:Progress s/n 105
Spacecraft Type:Progress 7K-TG
Manufacturer:NPO Energia
Launch Mass:7281 kg
Dry Mass:7020 kg
Payload Mass:2436 kg
Dimensions:7.48 m in length and
2.72 m in diameter
Launch Date:3 October 1978, 23:09:30 UTC
Launch Rocket:Soyuz-U s/n Ye15000-152
Launch Site:Baikonur, 1/5
Launch Contractor:OKB-1
Disposal Type:Deorbited
Decay Date:26 October 1978, 16:28 UTC [2]
Docking:
Docking Type:dock
Docking Port:Aft [3]
Docking Date:6 October 1978, 01:00:15 UTC
Undocking Date:24 October 1978, 13:01:52 UTC
Time Docked:18.5 days
Orbit Epoch:3 October 1978
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Periapsis:191 km
Orbit Apoapsis:266 km
Orbit Inclination:51.66°
Orbit Period:88.8 minutes
Apsis:gee
Cargo Mass:2436 kg
Cargo Mass Press:1230 kg
Cargo Mass Fuel:705 kg
Cargo Mass Gas:50 kg
Cargo Mass Water:420 kg
Programme:Progress (spacecraft)
Previous Mission:Progress 3
Next Mission:Progress 5

Progress 4, was a Progress cargo spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union in 1978 to resupply the Salyut 6 space station. It used the Progress 7K-TG configuration and was the fourth Progress mission to Salyut 6. It carried supplies aboard Salyut 6, as well as equipment for conducting scientific research, and fuel for adjusting the station's orbit and performing manoeuvres.

Spacecraft

Progress 4 was a Progress 7K-TG spacecraft. The fourth of forty three to be launched, it had the serial number 105.[4] [5] The Progress 7K-TG spacecraft was the first generation Progress, derived from the Soyuz 7K-T and intended for uncrewed logistics missions to space stations in support of the Salyut programme. On some missions the spacecraft were also used to adjust the orbit of the space station.

The Progress spacecraft had a dry mass of, which increased to around when fully fuelled. It measured in length, and in diameter. Each spacecraft could accommodate up to of payload, consisting of dry cargo and propellant. The spacecraft were powered by chemical batteries, and could operate in free flight for up to three days, remaining docked to the station for up to thirty.[6]

Launch

Progress 4 launched on 3 October 1978 at 23:09:30 UTC from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. It used a Soyuz-U rocket.[4]

Docking

Progress 4 docked with Salyut 6 on 6 October 1978 at 01:00:15 UTC.[7]

Decay

It remained in orbit until 26 October 1978, when it was deorbited. The deorbit burn occurred at 16:28 UTC.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Launchlog. Jonathan's Space Report. 23 December 2017.
  2. Web site: Progress 4. NASA. 23 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Cargo spacecraft "Progress-4". Manned Astronautics figures and facts . https://web.archive.org/web/20070910184754/http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/cargoes/pr4.sht. 10 September 2007.
  4. Web site: Progress 1 - 42 (11F615A15, 7K-TG). Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 26 November 2010.
  5. Web site: Launch Log. McDowell. Jonathan. Jonathan's Space Page. 26 November 2010.
  6. Book: Hall. Rex D.. Shayler. David J.. Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft. 2003 . Springer-Praxis. 1-85233-657-9. 239–250.
  7. Web site: Salyut 6. https://web.archive.org/web/20161210174048/http://www.astronautix.com/s/salyut6.html. dead. 10 December 2016. Astronautix. 23 December 2017.