Progress 6 Explained

Progress 6
Mission Type:Salyut 6 resupply
Cospar Id:1979-039A
Satcat:11356[1]
Spacecraft:Progress (No.106)
Spacecraft Type:Progress 7K-TG[2]
Manufacturer:NPO Energia
Launch Date:13 May 1979, 04:17:10 UTC
Launch Rocket:Soyuz-U
Launch Site:Baikonur, Site 31/6
Docking:
Docking Type:dock
Docking Port:Aft[3]
Docking Date:15 May 1979, 06:19:22 UTC
Undocking Date:8 June 1979, 07:59:41 UTC
Disposal Type:Deorbited
Decay Date:9 June 1979, 18:52:46 UTC
Orbit Epoch:13 May 1979
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Periapsis:190 km
Orbit Apoapsis:247 km
Orbit Inclination:51.6°
Orbit Period:88.8 minutes
Apsis:gee
Programme:Progress (spacecraft)
Previous Mission:Progress 5
Next Mission:Progress 7

Progress 6 was a Soviet unmanned Progress cargo spacecraft. It which was launched in May 1979 to resupply the Salyut 6 space station.

Spacecraft

Progress 6 was a Progress 7K-TG spacecraft. The sixth of forty three to be launched, it had the serial number 106.[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 6 launched on 13 May 1979 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh SSR. It used a Soyuz-U rocket.[7]

Docking

Progress 6 docked with the aft port of Salyut 6 on 15 May 1979 at 06:19:22 UTC, and was undocked on 8 June 1979 at 07:59:41 UTC.[8]

Decay

It remained in orbit until 9 June 1979, when it was deorbited. The deorbit burn occurred at 18:52:46 and the mission ended at 19:35 UTC.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Launchlog. Jonathan's Space Report. 4 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Progress 1 - 42 (11F615A15, 7K-TG). Gunter's Space Page. 4 December 2020.
  3. Web site: Cargo spacecraft "Progress 6". Manned Astronautics figures and facts . https://web.archive.org/web/20080409230017/http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/cargoes/pr6.sht. 9 April 2008.
  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: Progress 6. NASA. 4 December 2020.
  8. Web site: Salyut 6. https://web.archive.org/web/20161210174048/http://www.astronautix.com/s/salyut6.html. dead. 10 December 2016. Astronautix. 4 December 2020.