Today Progress M-26M was successfully launched to the ISS

On board fruit, oxygen and fuel for the correction of the station's orbit

The most interesting part of the launch starts at around 5:00

A few minutes ago, at 14:00 Moscow time, the Progress M-26M was successfully launched to the International Space Station. About 2.3 tons of cargo is on board of the cargo ship: 20 kilograms of fresh fruits and vegetables (apples, oranges, grapefruits, onions), standard and additional diets, including mayonnaise and mustard specially ordered by astronauts.

For the Russian crew members, American foodstuffs, previously detained at customs, also set off. In mid-January, it became known that problems arose because of the food sanctions of Russia to restrict the supply of food from the United States and EU countries. But representatives of Roskosmos intervened, and the situation was resolved. What foreign products could be needed by Russian cosmonauts is not specified.

“Progress” also carries on its equipment equipment for the station, scientific experiments “Environment”, “Parodont-2”, “Regeneration-1”, “Biofilm”, “Cascade”, “Biodegradation”, “BAR”, and parcels for the upcoming holidays, oxygen, water, hygiene items and fuel for the correction of the ISS orbit.
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The International Space Station is constantly experiencing a braking effect of the upper layers of the atmosphere, therefore, orbit correction is required periodically. The representative of the MCC said that on February 26 a test start of the Progress engines would be conducted, and the correction would begin at 12:16 Moscow time. The propulsion system will work for 358 seconds and will give the station an impulse of 0.78 m / s. On March 3, a major correction will be made to form the ISS orbit convenient for the upcoming crew return. On March 12, 3 ISS-42 members will return in the capsule of the Soyuz TMA-14M : Alexander Samokutyaev, Elena Serova and Barry Wilmore.



On February 12, after a preliminary inspection on Progress M-26M, a head fairing was installed (video above). The next day, the head unit was sent to the general assembly, and on February 15 the Soyuz-U launch vehicle was taken to the Baikonur launch complex. In the video below you can see the output of the rocket on the launch pad. A few hours ago it was allowed refueling components of the fuel. At 14:00 Moscow time was a successful launch. At 14:09, Progress M-26M was nominally separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle and entered the calculated orbit.



Progress M-26M uses a fast six-hour scheme, that is, it will dock to the aggregate compartment of the Zvezda service module as early as 19:59 Moscow time, and not after two days.

Recently, the European truck ATV-5, named for the Belgian astronomer Georges Lemetre, undocked from the ISS. The ESA automatic cargo ships are named after European scientists, and this fifth ship was the last in the series. The ATV-5 was planned to burn over a predetermined area of ​​the Pacific Ocean.

Updated 21:30: Progress M-26M was successfully docked to the Russian segment of the ISS.