Russia’s Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies cargo spacecraft will launch July 3 from Kazakhstan, delivering food, fuel, and equipment to the ISS. Docking is scheduled for July 5.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies
A new uncrewed Progress resupply mission is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, July 3, delivering essential cargo to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Operated by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the spacecraft will dock with the station on July 5, bringing food, water, fuel, and other critical supplies.
This mission is part of Russia’s long-standing Progress cargo program, which has been instrumental in sustaining the ISS since the early 2000s. The upcoming launch underscores the ongoing international cooperation that enables continuous human presence in low Earth orbit.
The Progress MS-28 cargo spacecraft, set to launch on July 3, will carry a wide range of food items and essential supplies to the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). While Roscosmos typically does not release a detailed public manifest of every item, based on standard Progress missions and the needs of current space crews, the following are the typical categories of food and supplies expected on board:
Types of Food Being Delivered
The food sent to the ISS must be nutritionally balanced, long-lasting, lightweight, and easy to prepare in microgravity. The Progress MS-28 mission is expected to include:
1. Thermostabilized Meals
Prepared dishes that are sealed in cans or pouches and sterilized using heat. Examples include:
- Beef stew
- Chicken in cream sauce
- Pork with buckwheat
- Lentils with vegetables
- Rice with meat and gravy
2. Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods
These are rehydrated with hot or cold water aboard the ISS:
- Instant soups and borscht
- Mashed potatoes
- Noodles and pasta
- Oatmeal and porridge
- Scrambled eggs
3. Snacks and Side Items
For in-between meals or additional nutrition:
- Dried fruits (apricots, prunes)
- Nuts and seeds
- Biscuits and cookies
- Fruit and vegetable bars
- Honey and jam in tubes
4. Drinks and Beverage Powders
Delivered in single-use pouches for mixing with water:
- Tea (black and green)
- Coffee (regular and decaffeinated)
- Fruit juice concentrates (apple, orange, grape)
- Electrolyte drink powders
- Cocoa and milk substitutes
5. Specialty and Custom Foods
Some crew members, depending on nationality and preference, may receive special foods from their home countries (e.g., Japanese miso soup, European cheeses, or American tortillas). These are included based on mission agreements.
Non-Food Supplies on Progress MS-28
Along with food, the spacecraft will deliver a variety of essential consumables and equipment needed for daily life and operations aboard the ISS:
1. Water and Air Supplies
- Drinking water stored in special containers
- Oxygen cylinders to replenish breathable air
- Nitrogen tanks to maintain cabin pressure balance
2. Medical and Hygiene Items
- First aid and emergency medical kits
- Personal hygiene products (toothbrushes, soap, towels)
- Disinfectants and antibacterial wipes
- Sanitary items including crew-specific hygiene packs
3. Clothing and Personal Items
- Fresh clothing for crew rotation (T-shirts, socks, undergarments)
- Towels and linens
- Personal care kits
4. Station Maintenance and Tools
- Replacement parts for hardware and life support systems
- Filters for air and water systems
- Cables, power connectors, and electronics components
- Tools for minor repairs and assembly
5. Science and Research Equipment
- New experiment kits for biology, physics, and technology research
- Containers for microgravity fluid and combustion tests
- Materials for medical studies (e.g., muscle and bone loss research)
- Sample return containers for future reentry missions
Waste Management and Return Function
Progress MS-28 is also equipped to handle waste removal. After the onboard cargo is unloaded:
- Used clothes, packaging, waste materials, and expired hardware are loaded into the spacecraft.
- Once full, the Progress will undock and perform a controlled deorbit, burning up over the South Pacific Ocean during reentry.
This dual-purpose use—resupply and disposal—makes Progress missions highly efficient for ISS logistics.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies: Mission Overview
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies, The spacecraft, designated Progress MS-28 (or Progress 88P in NASA’s tracking system), will be launched atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Site 31/6 at Baikonur. Liftoff is expected around 09:00 UTC (14:30 IST), depending on final countdown conditions and weather.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies, Following launch, the spacecraft will follow a two-day rendezvous profile, gradually adjusting its orbit to align with the ISS. Once it arrives on July 5, it will dock automatically to the aft port of the station’s Zvezda service module using its Kurs automated navigation and docking system.
Roscosmos flight controllers at the Mission Control Center in Korolev, near Moscow, will monitor the spacecraft’s journey and ensure proper orbital adjustments. The astronauts aboard the ISS will stand by to verify docking and unloading.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies: Role of Progress in ISS Operations
The Progress cargo vehicle has been a cornerstone of Russian spaceflight support since the Soviet era. The modern Progress MS series is a derivative of the Soyuz crew vehicle, modified for uncrewed logistics missions.
Each Progress spacecraft is capable of operating autonomously in orbit for several months. Once docked to the station, it becomes an integral part of the orbital complex, often used for waste storage and occasionally to adjust the ISS’s orbit to avoid space debris or prepare for incoming spacecraft.
Progress vehicles have consistently proven reliable, with a long record of successful missions. While other nations contribute cargo resupply through vehicles such as Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus, SpaceX’s Dragon, and JAXA’s HTV (and its future HTV-X), Progress continues to play a unique and central role in Russian and international station operations.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies: Crew Readiness and ISS Operations
Currently, the Expedition 72 crew is maintaining a full research and operations schedule aboard the ISS. The arrival of Progress MS-28 will provide the astronauts with needed restocking of consumables and additional tools for planned activities.
Crew members are trained to receive incoming spacecraft, monitor their approach, and verify systems during automated dockings. In the rare event of a malfunction, crew members are prepared to take manual control using backup systems on board.
Once the cargo is unloaded, the Progress will remain docked for several months. Before it is deorbited, it will be filled with waste and discarded equipment for controlled disposal over the Pacific Ocean.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies: International Collaboration Continues
Despite geopolitical tensions on Earth, the ISS remains a beacon of international cooperation in space. NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA continue to work together in the maintenance, operation, and resupply of the orbital laboratory.
This upcoming Progress launch marks another in a long series of coordinated missions that support the daily needs of astronauts and researchers living off the planet. It highlights the resilience and reliability of space partnerships that transcend national boundaries.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies: Future Progress Missions
Following the MS-28 mission, Roscosmos has additional Progress launches planned throughout 2025 and 2026, ensuring continuous support to the ISS as it enters its final years of planned operation. Some missions may also include modules or experimental payloads aimed at testing systems for future Russian space station concepts.
Roscosmos is also working on integrating improvements to the Progress spacecraft, including enhanced avionics and automated systems for better efficiency and safety.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies, as the global space industry evolves, the role of vehicles like Progress remains critical not only for logistics but also for demonstrating long-term sustainability in human spaceflight operations.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies: Conclusion
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies- The scheduled July 3 launch of the uncrewed Progress MS-28 cargo spacecraft from Kazakhstan marks another step in the enduring support system that keeps the International Space Station supplied and operational. With essential food, fuel, and science equipment aboard, the mission reinforces the vital infrastructure that allows humans to live and work in space.
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies as the spacecraft docks on July 5, it will continue a tradition of dependable service, contributing to the safety, productivity, and continuity of operations aboard the ISS. It is a reminder that behind every scientific breakthrough in orbit is a network of support systems and logistical missions like Progress—quietly enabling humanity’s continued presence in space.
Source:-
https://x.com/NASA/status/1939775741618446613?t=ALNzAl8NHc33LJ83O7nuAQ&s=19
Progress MS-28 Launch Vital ISS Supplies: FAQs
Q1. What is the Progress MS-28 spacecraft?
Progress MS-28 is an uncrewed cargo spacecraft developed and operated by Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency. It is designed to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
Q2. When will Progress MS-28 launch?
The spacecraft is scheduled to launch on Thursday, July 3, 2025, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Q3. When will Progress MS-28 dock with the ISS?
It is scheduled to dock with the ISS on July 5, 2025, two days after launch.
Q4. What rocket will launch Progress MS-28?
Progress MS-28 will be launched aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket, one of Russia’s most reliable launch vehicles.
Q5. What kind of cargo is it carrying?
The spacecraft will carry approximately 2.5 metric tons of food, water, fuel, spare parts, scientific equipment, and medical supplies for the crew aboard the ISS.
Q6. Is anyone onboard the Progress spacecraft?
No, Progress MS-28 is an uncrewed vehicle designed for autonomous operation and automated docking with the space station.
Q7. How does the spacecraft dock with the ISS?
Progress uses an automated navigation system called Kurs to guide and dock itself with the station, usually without the need for crew intervention.
Q8. How long will the Progress MS-28 stay attached to the ISS?
Typically, a Progress vehicle remains docked for several months before being loaded with waste and undocked for controlled deorbit and destruction in Earth’s atmosphere.
Q9. What happens to the Progress spacecraft after the mission?
Once its mission is complete and the cargo is unloaded, the spacecraft is filled with waste and burned up during reentry over the Pacific Ocean.
Q10. Why are Progress missions important?
Progress cargo missions are critical for maintaining the ISS. They deliver life-support materials, equipment for research, and performh tasks like orbital adjustments, keeping the station operational and safe.