On February 27, Russia honored the late cosmonaut Pavel Belyayev as he nears what would have been his 100th birthday. They marked the occasion by launching the Progress MS-30 resupply spacecraft, which was adorned with special emblems celebrating Belyayev’s legacy.
The launch took place from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:24 p.m. EST. The Progress spacecraft’s launch fairing featured designs honoring Belyayev, who led the first spacewalk during the 1965 Voskhod 2 mission. This mission also celebrated its 60th anniversary during the launch.
Once in space, the Progress MS-30 will embark on a two-day journey to the International Space Station (ISS), where it is expected to dock on March 1 at 6:03 p.m. EST. The ISS crew, including cosmonauts Aleksey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, and Alexander Grebenkin, will unload the supplies and equipment as soon as they can.
Progress MS-30 carries around 5,730 pounds (2,599 kilograms) of essential items for the space station. These include food, clothing, medical supplies, and a new Orlan-MKS spacesuit for future spacewalks, which is a modern upgrade from the older suits used in Belyayev’s time.
In addition, this cargo includes materials for studying micro-algae as a possible food source, tools to investigate microorganisms on surfaces in space, and equipment for creating advanced semiconductor crystals. There are also biomedical tools to assess how microgravity impacts blood circulation and immune responses.
The spacecraft will supply the station with critical resources: 2,094 pounds (950 kilograms) of fuel, 926 pounds (420 kilograms) of drinking water, and 110 pounds (50 kilograms) of nitrogen to maintain the cabin atmosphere.
Progress MS-30 will stay docked to the ISS for about six months before it returns to Earth, carrying waste materials for disposal upon reentry.
Pavel Belyayev was born on June 26, 1925. He became the oldest cosmonaut to fly into space at the age of 39 when he joined the Voskhod 2 mission. Sadly, he passed away on January 11, 1970, due to complications from surgery. His crewmate, Alexei Leonov, who performed the historic spacewalk, died in 2019.
This launch not only marks Belyayev’s centennial but also recognizes the 100-year anniversary of the Artek International Children’s Center and the Rosmolodezh forum campaign. Overall, Progress MS-30 is the 91st Russian resupply mission for the ISS and the 183rd flight of the Progress spacecraft since its debut in 1978.
Check out this related article: Don’t Miss These Stunning Celestial Events: Rare Planet Parade and Eclipses This Month!
Source link