Russian Progress Spacecraft Delivers 2.8 Tons of Vital Cargo to ISS: What You Need to Know

The International Space Station (ISS) just welcomed a new shipment of supplies. Russia’s Progress 93 cargo spacecraft connected with the ISS at 1:23 p.m. EDT on September 13. This event happened two days after it launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The docking took place while both spacecraft soared 260 miles above northeastern Kazakhstan. Progress 93 carries nearly 2.8 tons of food, fuel, and other essentials for the astronauts aboard the ISS’ Expedition 73 mission.

The cargo ship will stay at the ISS for about six months. After that, it will undock and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, where it will burn up. This makes way for advanced delivery systems that ensure astronauts receive the supplies they need for their lengthy missions.

At the ISS, Progress 93 joins a bustling lineup of four other spacecraft: a second Progress cargo ship, a SpaceX Dragon capsule, and two crew-carrying vehicles—a Russian Soyuz and SpaceX’s Crew-11 Endeavour. Another shipment is set to arrive soon, with Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft launching on September 14 and docking on September 17.

Seven astronauts currently live on the ISS: Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, and Jonny Kim from NASA; Kimiya Yui from Japan’s JAXA; and Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos. Ryzhikov is the commander of Expedition 73, while his fellow crew members serve as flight engineers.

This busy activity in space highlights how vital international cooperation is for maintaining life aboard the ISS. A recent report from the European Space Agency emphasizes the importance of teamwork in tackling the challenges of long-duration space missions. As space exploration becomes more ambitious, supplies like those delivered by Progress 93 will be crucial for sustaining human life far from Earth.

Bear in mind, the ISS, a marvel of modern engineering, has been continuously inhabited since November 2000, showcasing humanity’s ability to work together for scientific progress. With ongoing advancements and mission expansions, including potential lunar and Martian missions in the coming years, the role of these supply missions will only grow.

For more insights into space exploration and the ISS, you can check out NASA’s [current missions](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html) and updates on upcoming launches.

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