Progress MS-12 explained

Progress MS-12

Names List:

Progress 73P

Mission Type:

ISS resupply

Operator:

Roscosmos

Mission Duration:

121 days

Spacecraft:

Progress MS-12 s/n 442

Spacecraft Type:

Progress-MS

Manufacturer:

Energia

Launch Mass:

7392 kg

Payload Mass:

3434 kg

Launch Date:

31 July 2019, 12:10:46 UTC

Launch Rocket:

Soyuz-2.1a (s/n N15000-035)

Launch Site:

Baikonur, Site 31/6

Launch Contractor:

RKTs Progress

Disposal Type:

Deorbited

Decay Date:

29 November 2019, 14:19 UTC

Orbit Reference:

Geocentric orbit

Orbit Regime:

Low Earth orbit

Orbit Inclination:

51.66°

Apsis:

gee

Docking:

Docking Type:	dock
Docking Date:	31 July 2019, 15:29 UTC
Undocking Date:	29 November 2019 10:25 UTC
Time Docked:	121 days

Cargo Mass:

3434 kg

Cargo Mass Press:

1164 kg

Cargo Mass Fuel:

850 kg

Cargo Mass Gas:

51 kg

Cargo Mass Water:

420 kg

Programme:

Progress flights

Previous Mission:

Progress MS-11

Next Mission:

Progress MS-13

Progress MS-12, Russian production No.442, identified by NASA as Progress 73P, was a Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). This was the 164th flight of a Progress spacecraft.

History

The Progress-MS is an uncrewed freighter based on the Progress-M featuring improved avionics. This improved variant first launched on 21 December 2015. It has the following improvements:

New external compartment that enables it to deploy satellites. Each compartment can hold up to four launch containers. First time installed on Progress MS-03.
Enhanced redundancy thanks to the addition of a backup system of electrical motors for the docking and sealing mechanism.
Improved Micrometeoroid (MMOD) protection with additional panels in the cargo compartment.
Luch Russian relay satellites link capabilities enable telemetry and control even when not in direct view of ground radio stations.
GNSS autonomous navigation enables real time determination of the status vector and orbital parameters dispensing with the need of ground station orbit determination.
Real time relative navigation thanks to direct radio data exchange capabilities with the space station.
New digital radio that enables enhanced TV camera view for the docking operations.
The Ukrainian Chezara Kvant-V on board radio system and antenna/feeder system has been replaced with a Unified Command Telemetry System (UCTS).
Replacement of the Kurs A with Kurs NA digital system.

Pre-launch

In 2014, the launch was planned for 1 July 2018, rescheduled for 5 June 2019 and rescheduled to 31 July 2019. The liftoff had been initially set for the two-day rendezvous profile with the station, but the launch time was later shifted to enable a two-orbit (three-hour) flight to the station.

Launch

Progress MS-12 was launched on 31 July 2019, at 12:10:46 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using a Soyuz-2.1a rocket.

Docking

Progress MS-12 docked with the Pirs docking module. The docking took place 3 hours 18 minutes 31 seconds into the mission (a new record time).

Cargo

The Progress MS-12 spacecraft delivered of dry cargo (in the cargo compartment).

of water (in the Rodnik-system tanks)
of oxygen (in pressurized bottles)
of propellant in the refueling section
of propellant in the integrated propulsion system to the International Space Station.

The dry cargo consisted of:

of hardware for onboard systems
of medical supplies
of personal protective gear
of hygiene items
of repairs and servicing equipment
of means of crew support
of food
of payloads
of structural components and other hardware
of NASA cargo.

Undocking and decay

The Progress MS-12 craft undocked from ISS on 29 November 2019 at 10:25 UTC, initiated braking maneuver at 13:39 UTC, re-entered Earth's atmosphere at 14:11 UTC (end of mission), with any remaining debris impacting a remote part of Pacific Ocean at 14:19 UTC.