Progress M-03 Leaves Earth Filled With Cargo
Progress M-03/35P was launched this evening at 9:14pm EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It will dock with the International Space Station on 17 October around 9:41 pm EDT. The spacecraft is now in orbit and is functionaing normally. According to today’s ISS Onorbit Status Report “In preparation for Progress M-03/35P docking on 10/17 (Saturday, ~9:41pm EDT), FE-1 Suraev & FE-3 Romanenko worked through the standard three-hour training course with the TORU teleoperator system, which provides a manual backup mode to the Progress’ KURS automated rendezvous radio system. Afterwards, Max & Roman tagged up with a TORU instructor at TsUP/Moscow via S-band audio to report on results.”
Below are images from RSC Energia which chronicle how this spacecaft was prepared for its launch today.
Progress M-03/35P was launched this evening at 9:14pm EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It will dock with the International Space Station on 17 October around 9:41 pm EDT. The spacecraft is now in orbit and is functionaing normally. According to today’s ISS Onorbit Status Report “In preparation for Progress M-03/35P docking on 10/17 (Saturday, ~9:41pm EDT), FE-1 Suraev & FE-3 Romanenko worked through the standard three-hour training course with the TORU teleoperator system, which provides a manual backup mode to the Progress’ KURS automated rendezvous radio system. Afterwards, Max & Roman tagged up with a TORU instructor at TsUP/Moscow via S-band audio to report on results.”
Below are images from RSC Energia which chronicle how this spacecaft was prepared for its launch today.
October 3, 2009. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia.
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-03M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program. Progress M-03M cargo vehicle fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations.
October 7, 2009. Baikonur launch site,branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-03M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program. Progress M-03M transport cargo vehicle was docked with the transfer compartment in the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility.
October 9, 2009. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-03M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program. Designers inspection of the Progress M-03M transport cargo vehicle was completed.
Payload shroud roll on to the cargo vehicle was performed.
October 12, 2009. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
At Baikonur launch site the preparations continue for the launch of Progress M-03M cargo vehicle under the International Space Station program.
Orbital module of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, containing Progress M-03M spacecraft was integrated with the Soyuz-U launch vehicle in the processing facility.
October 13, 2009. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia
Soyuz-U launch vehicle was rolled out from the integration building to the launch pad. Soyuz-U launch vehicle with Progress M-03M transport vehicle is installed on the launch pad. L-2 days activities have been started.