Progress cargo ship variants
The original Progress, numbers 1 to 42, made flights to the space stations Salyut 6, 7 and Mir (one launched as Cosmos-1669 with an antenna system called «Игла», “Needle”, actually making 43 flights). There were 67 flights for the Progress M version, 11 times for the Progress M1 version, 12 times for Progress M-M and three times in special cases (Scientific Laboratory «Гамма», “Gamma” in 1990, Progress M-SO1 in 2001 and Progress M-MIM2 in 2009). The two versions currently in use are the Progress M and M1. Both versions are used to supply the ISS.
The table below (from somewhere in the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum) lists the variants that have flown.
| Spaceship Корабли |
Ship modification Модификации корабля |
Beginning of operation Начало эксплуатации |
Launches Запуски |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progress | Original version | 1978 | 43 |
| Progress M | First modification | 1989 | 53 |
| Progress M-VDU | Second modification | 1992 | 2 |
| Progress M1 | Third modification | 2000 | 11 |
| Progress M-SO1 | Fourth modification | 2001 | 1 |
| Progress M/M1 | Fifth modification | 2006 | In use |
Two comparison tables for the Progress M and M1.
| Performance | Progress-M | Progress M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Mass, kg | ||
| Spaceship Mass | 7020-7320 | 7200-7420 |
| Cargo Dry Mass | 2100-2620 | 2230-2450 |
| Cargo Mass (in cargo module) | up to 1800 | up to 1800 |
| Rodnik Tanks Water Mass | up to 420 | |
| Propellant Mass | up to 1150 | up to 1950 |
| Orbital Module Gas Mass | up to 50 | up to 40 |
| Orbit Parameters | ||
| Height, km | up to 400 | up to 460 |
| Inclination, deg | 51.6 | 51.6 |
| Overall Dimensions, mm | ||
| Spaceship Maximum Length | 7230 | 7230 |
| Spaceship Maximum Diameter | 2720 | 2720 |
| Equipment Bay Diameter | 2100 | 2100 |
| Solar Batteries Span | 10 700 | 10 700 |
| Cargo Module Length | 2406 | 2406 |
| Cargo Module Overall Diameter | 2200 | 2200 |
| Docking Hatch Diameter | 800 | 800 |
| Three Additional Hatches Diameter | 470 | 470 |
| Delivered/Disposal Cargo Dimensions, mm | ||
| Rectangle Diameter and Diagonal | less than 750 | less than 750 |
| Length | 1500 | 1500 |
| Delivered/Disposal Cargo Mass, kg | ||
| Fixed on Frames | up to 200 | up to 200 |
| Packed in Containers | up to 50 | up to 50 |
| Disposal Cargo Total Mass, kg | ||
| In Cargo Module | up to 1500 | up to 1500 |
| Liquid Waste Mass | up to 420 | |
| Category | Progress M | Progress M-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Total payload limit | 2350 kg | 2230-3200 kg |
| Maximum pressurized (dry) cargo | 1800 kg | 1800 kg |
| Maximum water | 420 kg | up to 300 kg in cargo module |
| Maximum air or oxygen | 50 kg | 40 kg |
| Maximum propellant for refuelling | 850 kg | 1700 kg (up to 1950 kg max) |
| Propellant surplus available to the Station | 250 kg | 185-250 kg |
| Amount of rubbish disposal in the Cargo Module | 1000-1600 kg | 1000-1600 kg |
| Waste water | 400 kg | In Cargo Module |
| Cargo volume | 6.6 m³ | 6.6m³ |
| Name: | Progress | Progress-M | Progress-M1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation: | 7K-TG | 7K-TGM | 7K-TGM1 |
| Maiden launch: | 20 Jan 1978 | 23 Aug 1989 | 1 Feb, 2000 |
| Total launched: | 43 (series is closed in 1990) | 48 (on April 2004) | 11 (on April 2004) |
| Key features: | Automated TKG, developed on the basis of Soyuz manned spacecraft | Automated TKG, with unified main systems as for Soyuz-TM manned spacecraft. Presence of solar panel increases margin of self-sufficiency. Added a teleoperator mode of control from board of orbital station (TORU) | Automated TKG, specially modified to deliver fuel components to the ISS |
| Total mass of delivered payload, kg: | up to 2300 | up to 2620 | up to 2450 |
| Limit mass for components, kg | |||
| in cargo compartment: | up to 1400 | up to 1800 | up to 1800 |
| propellant components: | up to 870 | up to 1150 | up to 1950 |
| gas: | up to 50 | up to 50 | up to 40 |
| water:: | up to 420 | up to 420 | up to 220 |
Variants
Original Progress
The first Progress, Progress 1, launched on 20 January 1978 to Salyut 6. The Progress relied on internal batteries for power, not solar panels.
Progress M
The modernized Progress M first launched on 23 August 1989 to Mir. The modernization was primarily of the flight control systems.
Progress M-1
The Progress M-1 version was a modified version that enabled the delivery of more fuel to the ISS for the orbital boosting and maneuvering systems. The tanks were fitted into the middle section while the water tanks were moved into the front Cargo Module. The extra fuel means less water can be carried, though:
Since the shuttle fuel cells generate water as a byproduct of electricity generation, the space shuttle was to deliver all water to ISS, hence the development of the Progress M-1 which replaced the water tanks with additional fuel. After the Columbia accident, Russia reverted to the Progress M to deliver water to ISS while the shuttle fleet was grounded. Perhaps they could have reverted to the M-1 after return-to-flight, but the announcement of shuttle retirement in 2010 has understandably made them reluctant to do so.
The M-1 first launched on 1 February 2000 to the International Space Station. It also has a new digital flight control system and new version of the Kurs automated rendezvous & docking system (Kurs-MM). Twelve tanks filled with a nitrogen-oxygen mix for the Station’s atmosphere are fitted around the outside, between the Refuelling and Propellant modules.
Progress MSO-1
The Progress M-SO1 version was a specially-modified version used to launch the Pirs docking module on 14 September 2001. The Pirs module replaced the standard cargo and fuel sections of the Progress. (SO, Стыковочный Отсек, Docking Module.)
Progress M-VDU
The Progress M-VDU version was a specially-modified version of the Progress-M used twice to launch the VDU propulsion unit to the Mir Space Station. The VDU module replaced the standard fuel section (OKD). On 15 August 1992 Progress M-14 (serial 209) was launched with the first VDU for installation on the end of the Sofora girder on the Kvant-1 module. The second VDU was launched with Progress M-38 (serial 238) on 14 March 1998 as a replacement for the old unit. (ВДУ, Выносная Двигательная Установка – VDU, Vynosnaya Dvigatel’naya Ustanovka, External Engine Unit) (Thanks to Marcel Stuij for info!)
Progress M-XXM
The designation Progress M-XXM (where XX = 01, 02, 03 etc.) has been chosen for Progress M cargo ships with a new onboard computer, TsVM-101, a digital telemetry system. Currently the Progress M cargo ships use an old onboard computer, Argon-16. Progress M-01M (No. 401) launched on 26 November 2008.
Numbering
The Progress numbering system is somewhat complex. 11F615A55 is the article number and 7K-TGM is the manufacturer’s designation. The ships are also given serial numbers:
- Progress 1 to Progress 42 the serial number started with “1”: Progress 1 was 11F615A15 number 102, Progress 42 was 11F615A15 number 150.
- Progress M-1 to Progress M-49 the serial number started with “2”: Progress M-1 was 11F615A55 number 201, Progress M-49 was 11F615A55 number 249.
- For Progress M1-1 to Progress M1-11, the serial number started counting from “250” until “260”.
- Starting with Progress M-50 the serial number started with a “3”, that is 350, 351, 352, etc …
(Via Rui Barbosa at NASASpaceflight.com)
Links
- Encyclopedia Astronautica: Progress; Progress M; Progress M1; Progress M-SO
- FP Space: Soyuz/Progress upgrades, 20/8/2007
~ Page last updated: 25 August 2011