BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan – July 3, 2025
In a critical maneuver to sustain operations aboard the orbiting laboratory, Russia`s state space corporation Roscosmos successfully launched the Progress MS-31 uncrewed cargo spacecraft. The mission lifted off from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 22:32 Moscow time.
Following a nominal ascent, the Progress MS-31 spacecraft achieved orbit and successfully separated from the third stage of its Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket, a standard and reliable workhorse in space logistics. This separation confirmed the spacecraft was on its intended path towards the International Space Station (ISS).
The journey to the ISS is planned to take slightly over two days. Docking is scheduled for July 6, 2025, at 0:28 Moscow time, connecting the Progress MS-31 to the Poisk module of the station`s Russian segment. The spacecraft is expected to remain docked for a total of 167 days, serving as an integral part of the station`s infrastructure and eventually being deorbited to burn up safely in the Earth`s atmosphere after completing its service.
The primary purpose of the Progress MS-31 mission is to deliver a substantial payload to the station`s international crew. Onboard are more than 2.6 tons of vital supplies. This delivery includes essential resources such as fuel for the station`s propulsion system, nitrogen to replenish the cabin atmosphere and ensure breathable air, potable water, food provisions, and clothing for the crew`s daily needs. Additionally, sanitary-hygienic supplies and medical kits are part of the crucial cargo.
Beyond crew consumables, the spacecraft carries equipment and materials necessary for the ongoing maintenance, potential repairs, and system upgrades of the station itself. Crucially, it also transports hardware and samples for various scientific experiments planned by the crew. These experiments, identified by names such as `Impuls`, `Mirage`, `Fullerene`, `Biopolymer`, `Virtual`, `Splanchn`, `Biodegradation`, `Orbita-MG`, and `Separation`, span diverse scientific disciplines, contributing to research in areas like physics, biology, and technology development in a microgravity environment.
The arrival of Progress MS-31 will augment the current fleet of Russian spacecraft docked to the ISS. The Progress MS-30 cargo ship has been connected to the Zvezda module since March 2. Meanwhile, the crewed Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, docked to the Prichal nodal module since April 8, currently supports the station`s crew, including Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, along with NASA astronaut Johnny Kim. The successful launch and upcoming docking of Progress MS-31 ensure the continuity of supplies and research capabilities for the crew currently living and working in orbit.
