On September 13, 2025, Russia’s Progress-93 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), delivering approximately 2.8 tons of essential supplies to support the station’s Expedition 73 crew. This mission underscores the ongoing significance of Russian resupply efforts in maintaining the ISS’s operations.
Mission Overview
Launched on September 11, 2025, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket, Progress-93 (also known as Progress MS-32) embarked on a two-day journey to the ISS. The uncrewed spacecraft autonomously docked at the Zvezda Service Module’s aft port at 1:23 p.m. EDT on September 13, 2025.
Cargo Delivered
Progress-93’s cargo included a variety of supplies critical for the station’s operations:
- Food and Water: Provisions to sustain the crew for several months.
- Fuel: Propellant for the ISS’s orbital adjustments.
- Scientific Equipment: Instruments and materials for ongoing experiments.
- Maintenance Supplies: Spare parts and tools for the station’s upkeep.
These deliveries are vital for supporting the crew’s daily activities and the station’s scientific endeavors.
Duration and Future Plans
Progress-93 is scheduled to remain docked with the ISS for approximately six months. During this period, it will serve as a temporary storage facility for waste materials. Upon undocking, the spacecraft will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate, effectively removing the accumulated trash from the station.
This mission is part of a long-standing series of resupply flights by Russia’s Progress spacecraft, which have been instrumental in sustaining the ISS since its inception.
About the Author
