The astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) received a crucial delivery of supplies today. The Russian Progress 93 spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS's Zvezda module at 1:23 p.m. EDT (1723 GMT) on September 13, two days after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz rocket.
This significant rendezvous took place as the two spacecraft soared approximately 260 miles (418 kilometers) above northeastern Kazakhstan. The Progress spacecraft is carrying an impressive 2.8 tons of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and various other cargo, specifically designated for the current Expedition 73 mission on the ISS, as confirmed by NASA officials.
The Progress 93 spacecraft is slated to remain attached to the ISS for around six months. Following this period, it will undock and return to Earth, ultimately disintegrating in a fiery re-entry into our planet's atmosphere.
Progress 93 joins an impressive fleet of spacecraft currently stationed at the ISS. Among them are two other freighters: another Progress and a robotic SpaceX Dragon capsule. Additionally, two crew-carrying spacecraft are docked: a Russian Soyuz and the Endeavour Dragon, which is supporting SpaceX's Crew-11 astronaut mission for NASA.
In addition to the existing cargo, another vehicle is set to launch soon. The Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo spacecraft is scheduled for launch on Sunday, September 14, and is expected to arrive at the ISS by Wednesday, September 17.
Currently, seven astronauts are residing aboard the ISS, including Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, and Jonny Kim from NASA, Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Ryzhikov is serving as the commander of Expedition 73, while his six crewmates fulfill the role of flight engineers.
The successful docking of Progress 93 reinforces the ongoing collaboration in space exploration and the continuous support for the astronauts aboard the ISS. As the crew prepares for their upcoming missions, the delivery of vital supplies ensures that they can conduct their research and experiments effectively in the unique environment of space.
