Russia launches Progress MS-22 space freighter to ISS

Moscow, Feb 9 (EFE).- Russia launched the Soyuz-2.1 carrier rocket Thursday with the Progress MS-22 space freighter toward the International Space Station, with a load of fuel, water, food and equipment necessary for the work of the crew of the orbital platform.

The spacecraft was launched at 9:15 am Moscow time (0615 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos.

The space freighter is scheduled to dock Saturday with the ISS.

The Progress MS were created on the basis of the Soviet Soyuz manned spacecraft by the space company Energia to transport cargo to orbital stations and also serve to correct their orbits.

The last correction of this type occurred on Feb. 3 with the help of the Progress MS-20 spacecraft, which raised the orbit of the ISS by 2.4 kilometers to guarantee the adequate descent of this spacecraft.

Previously the Progress MS-20 also carried out maneuvers to allow the ISS to avoid a space debris impact.

On Feb. 7, the Progress MS-20 separated from the ISS and after leaving orbit it was sunk in the Pacific Ocean.

Since 2018, the Progress MS spacecraft have been flying to the ISS after twice orbiting the Earth, which allows them to dock with the station 3 hours and 40 minutes after launch, unlike the initial scheme, which required 34 laps in a 48-hour journey. Thursday’s launch will use the longer sequence. EFE

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