Updates ISS Progress flights updates

[Cosmic Penguin]

The Russian Progress spacecraft is currently the "golden standard" for automatic space station logistics spacecrafts - more than 130 has been flown since 1977 with only one failed to meet its objectives. Currently the ISS requires 4 Progress flights per year. With so many of these "run-of-the-mill" flights these days, and with less exposure than the Dragons et al. (which also have one mega update threads here), I decide that it may work better to just consolidate all future Progress spacecraft flights in this one major thread, rather than scattering many threads here.

First to be featured here is Progress M-19M, which will be launched tomorrow as ISS program flight 51P. Stand by for a mission report here!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Progress M-19M mission report

Note that Progress M-19M was switched from the 6 hour launch-to-docking profile back to the standard 2 day flight to the ISS, because the launch team at Baikonur cannot support the 6 hour launch-to-docking profile launch window (which came on April 22) after supporting the Bion-M launch last week.

Launch location:

Baikonur Launch pad no. 1/5 45°55'12.85"N, 63°20'32.27"E

Launch dates and times:

{colsp=6}Launch times

Time Zone |

Australia - Sydney/AEDT (UTC+12) ​

|

Baikonur / UTC+6 ​

|

Moscow / MSKS (UTC+4)/ ​

|

Universal / UTC ​

|

Washington / EDT (UTC-4) ​

Launch time (Primary): ​

|

22:12:16​

|

16:12:16​

|

14:12:16​

|

10:12:16​

|

06:12:16​

on: ​

|

Apr. 24, 2013​

|

Apr. 24, 2013​

|

Apr. 24, 2013​

|

Apr. 24, 2013​

|

Apr. 24, 2013​

Launch time (Backup): ​

|

21:49:43​

|

15:49:43​

|

13:49:43​

|

09:49:43​

|

05:49:43​

on: ​

|

Apr. 25, 2013​

|

Apr. 25, 2013​

|

Apr. 25, 2013​

|

Apr. 25, 2013​

|

Apr. 25, 2013​

{colsp=6}

[highlight][eventTimer]2013-04-24 10:12:16?before|after;%dd% Days %hh% Hours %mm% Minutes %ss% Seconds %c%[/eventTimer] Progress M-19M Launch[/highlight]​

{colsp=6}Docking times

Time Zone |

Australia - Sydney/AEDT (UTC+12) ​

|

Moscow / MSKS (UTC+4)/ ​

|

Universal / UTC ​

|

Washington / EDT (UTC-4) ​

Docking time (Primary): ​

|

00:26:18 ±3 min​

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16:26:18 ±3 min​

|

12:26:18 ±3 min​

|

08:26:18 ±3 min​

on: ​

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Apr. 27, 2013​

|

Apr. 26, 2013​

|

Apr. 26, 2013​

|

Apr. 26, 2013​

Docking time (Backup): ​

|

23:38 ±3 min​

|

15:38 ±3 min​

|

11:38 ±3 min​

|

07:38 ±3 min​

on: ​

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Apr. 27, 2013​

|

Apr. 27, 2013​

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Apr. 27, 2013​

|

Apr. 27, 2013​

{colsp=6}

[highlight][eventTimer]2013-04-26 12:26:18?before|after;%dd% Days %hh% Hours %mm% Minutes %ss% Seconds %c%[/eventTimer] Progress M-19M docking to ISS[/highlight]​

Live Coverage Of The Launch:

• NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
• TSENKI Video Streams: http://www.tsenki.com/broadcast/broadcast/
• Roscosmos Video Stream: http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=361

Progress M-19M (industry id 11F615A60 #419, NASA id Progress 51P) cargo spaceship

Cargo Manifest

Propellants in the refueling system     365 kg
* Oxygen                                 26 kg
* Air                                    22 kg
Water in Rodnik ("Creek") system tanks  410 kg

Pressured section cargo (total mass 1543 kg)

Equpiment for systems:
* SOGS atmosphere composition control    83 kg
* SVO water supply control               120 kg
* SOTR heat exchange control             8 kg
* SKASh acoustic noise control system  1 kg
* STOR maintenance and repair           6 kg
* KS TOR maintenance and repair kit  27 kg

SPPZ fire protection system items         6 kg
SGO Hygiene and sanitation items        118 kg
Food rations, fresh products            198 kg
Medical equipment, underwear,
personal hygiene and care, station
air purity checking and cleaning        695 kg

FGB Zarya equipment                      62 kg
MRM-1 Rassvet equipment               10 kg
MRM-2 Poisk equipment                   19 kg
DC-1 Pirs equipment                       18 kg

Scientific equipment for experiments    21 kg

Technological support equipment             16 kg

Personal delivery for Russian
crew members                             103 kg

Photography equipment for crew members 33 kg

American food rations delivery          15 kg

Total cargo mass                       2366 kg

Mission Profile

Ascent Chart:

1. Approach and Docking Chart:

The times below are in Moscow Standard Time (UTC+4):

The expected payload separation time: 14:21:06.18

2. Orbital Parameters of Progress M-19M and the ISS

Parameter|Designation|Prorgess-M-19M on 04/24|ISS on 04/26
Orbital Period|T, min|88.59 ±0.37|92.69
Inclination|i, degrees|51.66 ±0.06|51.66
Min altitude|h, km|193 +7 -15|402.85
Max altitude|H, km|245 ±42|426.87

Phase angle between the space ship and the ISS is about 231 degrees
Projected duration of the space ship at the nominal orbit is no less than 20 orbits (~30 hrs)

3. Transfer manoeuvres
(two days long approach scheme applied)

* Nominal two-burn manoeuvre forming a phasing orbit

Date|Burn at|Orbit #|Delta V, m/s|Burn duration, s|post-burn T,min|post-burn i,deg|post-burn h,km|post-burn H,km
24.04.13|17:53:36|3|41.45|97.00|90.00|51.64|230.11|334.30
24.04.13|18:45:32|4|26.57|61.9|90.94|51.63|291.29|362.49

* The 2nd day's one-burn correction

Date|Burn at|Orbit #|Delta V, m/s|Burn duration, s|post-burn T,min|post-burn i,deg|post-burn h,km|post-burn H,km
25.04.13|15:36:06|17|2.00|29.0|91.00|51.66|297.98|361.77

Autonomous approach program is initiated at 14:03:15.

4. Approach at the Close range

Fly-around, station keeping and docking procedures will be used on April 26, 2013 from 16:02:52 ±3 min to docking contact

5. Docking

Contact and capture will be performed on April 26, 2013 at 16:26:18 ±3 min

Docking is to SM Zvezda +X docking port

Launch Vehicle:

{colsp=2}Characteristics

|

{colsp=2}

Soyuz-U​

Prime contractor:​

|

• Samara Space Sentre (Energia Holding enterprise)
  

GRAU Index:​

|

• 11A511U

Height:​

| 51.1 m

Diameter:​

| max 10.3 m

Liftoff mass:​

| 313 metric tonnes

Payload mass:​

| 6.95 tonnes at ISS orbit from Baikonur

1st stage (boosters B, V, G, D):​

|

• 4 X RD-117 engines
• Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
• Thrust/ISP in vacuum - / 316 s
• Thrust/ISP at sea level 79.4 tonnes / 253 s
• Total 1st stage's thrust at sea level: 411.1 tonnes

2nd stage (core A):​

|

• 1 X RD-118 engine
• Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
• Thrust/ISP in vacuum 102 tonnes / 314 s
• Thrust/ISP at sea level 83.5 tonnes / 257 s

3rd stage (block I):​

|

• 1 X RD-0110 engine
• Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
• Thrust/ISP in vacuum 30.38 tonnes / 359 s

The vehicle's reliability statistics according to http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/log2013.html#rate:

================================================================ 
Vehicle     Successes/Tries Realzd Pred  Consc. Last     Dates    
                             Rate  Rate* Succes Fail    
================================================================
Soyuz-U         743   763x   .97  .97      6    8/24/11  1973-

x Does not include Soyuz-U/Soyuz T-10-1 pre-launch fire that 
   resulted in escape tower firing saving crew, but destroying 
   launch vehicle on 9-26-1983.  Note that 10 additional 
   Soyuz-U launches with Ikar or Fregat upper stages (all 
   successful) are cataloged separately.

 

[orb]

Rollout video from tvroscosmos:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Nothing to report - the spacecraft is in orbit and has deployed the antennas and solar panels. (looking at Hawthorne.... )

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Nothing to report - the spacecraft is in orbit and has deployed the antennas and solar panels. (looking at Hawthorne.... )

Well I was wrong - it looks like one of the antennas used for the Kurs automatic rendezvous system did not deploy.... http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp35/prog51p.html

 

[orb]

tvroscosmos:

NASAtelevision:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41xuAow-UJU"]Russian Cargo Freighter Heads for the International Space Station - YouTube[/ame]

 

[N_Molson]

Confirmed, the KURS is rebelling once again. That thing can be a pest, really. Let's hope they'll find a back-up plan (TORU, probably). According to Spaceflight Now :

The preliminary orbit was achieved after a nine-minute ascent provided by the three-stage rocket, and onboard commands were issued to unfurl the craft's communications and navigation antennas and extend two power-generating solar arrays that span 35 feet.

However, initial telemetry indicated one of the antennas for the KURS automated rendezvous system -- the hemispherical antenna on the side of the spacecraft -- did not immediately deploy as expected. Russian flight controllers are assessing the situation and any potential impacts.

The antenna in question is used for sending and retrieving navigation signals, according to Brandi Dean, NASA's mission control commentator in Houston, and is one of five in the KURS package aboard the Progress.

---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:11 PM ----------

From Spaceflight 101 :

After spacecraft separation, the Progress deployed its Solar Arrays and Communications Antennas to complete Orbital Insertion and start its Mission to resupply the Space Station. Shortly thereafter, it became clear that one of the navigation antennas of the vehicle did not deploy as expected.

The Mission Control Team began assessments of the situation and will troubleshoot the antenna issue to determine potential impacts on the mission of the Progress. The antenna in question is a hemispherical antenna that is part of the KURS Navigation System. It is located on the side of the vehicle. The KURS System has some redundancy and teams will make sure that the system is functional before allowing the Progress to perform an automated Rendezvous.

In case the system is not available for the Rendezvous, the Russian crew members aboard ISS would use the TORU System to bring the vehicle in for a manual docking.

With this flight using the traditional two-day rendezvous, teams will have more time to assess the situation and troubleshoot the problem. In case of a 4-orbit rendezvous, there is virtually no room for error as the vehicle begins orbital maneuvers just minutes after insertion.

Progress M-19M will be performing two large orbit adjustments on Wednesday and one maneuver on Thursday to set the stage for the automated rendezvous which will be initiated on Friday. Docking to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module of ISS is planned for 12:27 UTC on Friday. Progress M-19M is carrying a total of 2,366 Kilograms of cargo to ISS.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Apparently a second try in attempting to command the antenna to unfurl has failed, so it looks like there is a decent chance that the Kurs automatic docking system may not work at all. If so the cosmonauts will need to prepare for doing the fly-around and final approach to docking all by themselves through the TORU manual control system - something that, IIRC, has never happened before at least back to the existence of the ISS.

In the meantime:

 

[orb]

Phys.org: Russian spaceship may fail to dock to ISS:

{...}

The news agency report cited a Russian space industry source as saying that the Progress cargo carrier may be impeded in its docking operation by the improperly protruding antenna.

The antenna would create a space between the craft and the space station's hermetic seals that would make opening of the station's hatches too dangerous, the report said.

"After the cargo carrier manually docks with the station, the unopened antenna could run up against the docking node," the unnamed source told Interfax.

"In that case, the docking process will be impossible to complete in a perfectly hermetically-sealed manner."

The source added that this would then require for the crew on board the ISS to perform a spacewalk during which the problem could be fixed.

{...}

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Here in my world we call that "mechanical agitation", or "seismic alignment". Oddly enough such phrases don't bother management as much as "I hit it with a wrench and it started working", but they all mean the same thing.

 

[Ripley]

Wow, what a scenario!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Wow, what a scenario!

Actually similar things already happened, including once early in the ISS history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvant-1

Kvant-1 and its FSM were launched on March 30, 1987 – at the time of the launch the Mir station was manned by the EO-2 crew, which had already docked on the front port with the Soyuz TM-2 spacecraft. On April 9, Kvant-1 achieved a soft dock with the aft port on Mir. However, the Kvant-1 was not able to achieve a hard dock which meant that the two spacecraft were only loosely connected – in this configuration, Mir could not orient itself or else damage would occur.
The EO-2 crew conducted an emergency EVA on April 11 to investigate the problem. The crew found a piece of debris, probably a trash bag, that was left by Progress 28. After removing it, Kvant-1 was finally able to achieve a hard dock with the station on the same day. The Kvant-FSM, which contained the now unneeded propulsion of the Kvant-1 module, was finally jettisoned on April 12, revealing Kvant-1's rear docking port.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M1-7

Progress M1-7 was launched by a Soyuz-FG carrier rocket from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Launch occurred at 18:24:12 GMT on 26 November 2001.[1] The spacecraft docked with the Aft port of the Zvezda module at 19:43:02 GMT on 28 November.[2][3] It was unable to establish a hard dock due to debris from Progress M-45 on the docking port, which had to be removed in an unscheduled extra-vehicular activity on 3 December, after which it was able to establish a hard dock.

But wrenching a stuck antenna (or even cut it off if all else fails)? Probably the coolest thing to happen in an EVA since this:

 

[N_Molson]

Interesting. Let's see how the situation evolves.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The docking is supposed to happen in about 2 hours from now, but the problem of the obstructing antenna colliding with the back of the Zvezda Service Module is still lingering around, but sources differ as to if the docking will press ahead. (I heard that the US side says "No", while the Russian side says "Da" :huh

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The docking is supposed to happen in about 2 hours from now, but the problem of the obstructing antenna colliding with the back of the Zvezda Service Module is still lingering around, but sources differ as to if the docking will press ahead. (I heard that the US side says "No", while the Russian side says "Da" :huh

Per the (started much earlier than planned) NASA TV docking coverage, they are pressing on right now, with the Kurs system continue to be used for rendezvous, then the astronauts would take over with TORU for docking.

 

[N_Molson]

Well, one hour from docking, and they are still proceeding on KURS rendez-vous. It seems that russian controllers uploaded a software patch. But there is some uncertainty, and they'll be ready to take over on TORU for the last 20 meters if needed (mostly a problem with roll control, as far as I understood). Remembers the "good" old Mir days.

---------- Post added at 11:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 AM ----------

15 kilometers away from the ISS now.

 

[IronRain]

The antenna seems to overlapping the docking interface on this photo :shrug:

 

[tl8]

Thinking out-loud, if they command it to unfurl and add pressure with hard dock, they could generate enough torque to move it.

---------- Post added at 09:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 PM ----------

It depends on the Zvezda docking port profile. It might nudge it out of the way.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Thinking out-loud, if they command it to unfurl and add pressure with hard dock, they could generate enough torque to move it.

---------- Post added at 09:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 PM ----------

It depends on the Zvezda docking port profile. It might nudge it out of the way.

Not quite the best simulation of the Zvezda docking port to Progress profile, but.....