The International Space Station (ISS) received a vital boost on September 13th with the arrival of the Progress 93 cargo spacecraft. Launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on September 11th atop a Soyuz rocket, the unmanned freighter successfully docked with the ISS's Zvezda module at 1:23 p.m. EDT (1723 GMT). The docking occurred while the spacecraft were orbiting over northeastern Kazakhstan at an altitude of 260 miles (418 kilometers).
Progress 93 delivered a crucial 2.8 tons of cargo, including essential food, fuel, and vital supplies for the seven astronauts currently residing on the ISS as part of Expedition 73. This resupply mission is critical for maintaining the ongoing scientific research and operational needs of the space station.
The Progress 93 will remain docked at the ISS for approximately six months, providing a continuous source of support. After fulfilling its mission, it will detach and burn up harmlessly upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Progress 93 joins a busy space around the ISS, currently shared with another Progress spacecraft, a SpaceX Dragon capsule, a Russian Soyuz, and the SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon spacecraft. Further adding to the station's traffic, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo spacecraft is scheduled for launch on September 14th, with arrival anticipated on September 17th.
The Expedition 73 crew currently aboard the ISS includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, and Jonny Kim; JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov (mission commander), Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov. Their collective efforts ensure the continuous operation and scientific progress aboard the orbiting laboratory. The successful docking of Progress 93 underscores the ongoing international collaboration essential to maintaining the ISS as a hub for space research and exploration.
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Originally published at: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/russia-progress-93-spacecraft-arrives-international-space-station
