How Did the Progress 62 Cargo Craft Launch to the International Space Station?

TL;DR

Progress 62 reached its preliminary orbit 8 minutes and 45 seconds after launching aboard a Soyuz 2.1a booster for a two-day rendezvous with the International Space Station. The flight remained nominal, spacecraft separation was confirmed, and its solar arrays and navigational antennas deployed. Read on for the launch sequence, timing, speeds, and mission purpose.

Transcript

inside 30 seconds first umbilical has now been retracted standing by for main engine start the main engine start has been initiated this will be a three-step fashion to bring the turbo pumps on the first stage up to flight Speed 3 2 1 and liftoff lift off of the 62 progress resupply vehicle from the bikon or cosmodrome headed on a two-day Rendevous... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 The Progress 62 cargo craft successfully launched from the Bikinor Cosmodrome and is on its way to the International Space Station.
• 🚒 All engines and vehicle parameters were reported to be normal throughout the launch.
• 📡 The cargo craft successfully separated from the second and third stages and deployed its solar arrays and navigational antennas.
• 🎮 The cargo craft will undergo further operations under the control of the flight control team in Carof.
• 🚀 The launch occurred on time and within the expected parameters.
• 🥳 This is the second launch of International Space Station hardware and crew members in a six-day period.
• 🥳 The cargo craft will perform a two-day rendezvous to test upgraded systems.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the mission of the Progress 62 cargo craft?

Progress 62 launched on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. It was headed for a two-day rendezvous that would test upgraded systems.

Q: Where did Progress 62 launch from?

Progress 62 launched from site 31 at the Bikonor Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. A Soyuz 2.1a booster carried the cargo craft toward its preliminary orbit.

Q: How long did Progress 62 take to reach its preliminary orbit?

Progress 62 reached its preliminary orbit 8 minutes and 45 seconds after launch. The third-stage shutdown and spacecraft separation were then confirmed.

Q: Did the Progress 62 launch encounter any problems?

No problems were reported during the ascent. Engine performance, vehicle stabilization, structural parameters, pitch, roll, and yaw were all described as normal or nominal.

Q: What happened after Progress 62 separated from the third stage?

The spacecraft achieved a good separation from the third stage. Its solar arrays and navigational antennas deployed, and its television camera was activated.

Q: What happened during the first-stage separation?

The four strap-on boosters on the Soyuz were jettisoned. At that point, the booster was traveling at about 3,400 miles an hour.

Q: Who controlled Progress 62 after orbital insertion?

Control passed to the flight control team in Carof at orbital insertion. The broadcast showed the International Space Station flight control room at the Russian Mission Control Center there.

Q: Why was the Progress 62 launch notable for the International Space Station program?

It was the second launch of International Space Station hardware and crew members in a 6 day period. The launch occurred on time and sent Progress 62 into its preliminary orbit as planned.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Definition: Progress 62 was a cargo resupply craft launched toward the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz 2.1a booster.

• Step 1: The main engine started in a three-step sequence that brought the first-stage turbo pumps up to flight speed.

• Step 2: Progress 62 lifted off from site 31 at the Bikonor Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

• Step 3: The vehicle passed through maximum dynamic pressure and went supersonic with stabilization reported as normal.

• Number: The Soyuz was traveling at about 3,400 miles an hour when first-stage separation was confirmed.

• Step 4: Second-stage separation was confirmed, leaving the third-stage engine to propel Progress 62 toward preliminary orbit.

• Number: Third-stage shutdown was expected at the 8 minute 45 second mark, followed by spacecraft separation.

• Step 5: Spacecraft separation was confirmed, then the solar arrays and navigational antennas deployed.

• Number: Progress 62 reached its preliminary orbit 8 minutes and 45 seconds after launch.

• When: Liftoff occurred at 2:44 and 39 seconds a.m. Central Time and 2:44 and 39 seconds p.m. in Bikonor.

• Who: Scott Kelly and Tim Cpra were completing suit-up procedures for a spacewalk during the Progress 62 ascent.

• Number: This was the second launch of International Space Station hardware and crew members in a 6 day period.