RSC Energia specialists working at Baikonur launch site have successfully completed operations to mate logistics trasport vehicle Progress-04 to the adapter section.

The vehicle preparations for the launch under the International Space Station (ISS) program are being performed at the spacecraft processing facility at the Baikonur launch site.

Planned for the days to come under the schedule of processing activities are a designer’s inspection of the vehicle, roll-on of the payload fairing and transportation of the orbital module containing Progress MS-04 from the spacecraft processing facility to the launch vehicle integration and checkout facility to be integrated with the launch vehicle.

Planned for the days to come under the schedule of processing activities are a designer’s inspection of the vehicle, roll-on of the payload fairing and transportation of the orbital module containing Progress MS-04 from the spacecraft processing facility to the launch vehicle integration and checkout facility to be integrated with the launch vehicle.

The new-series transportation spacecraft Progress MS and Soyuz MS designed and built by RSC Energia were developed as a result of a radical upgrade of Progress M and Soyuz TMA spacecraft. The onboard command radio system Kvant-B was replaced with an integrated command and telemetry system with an additional telemetry channel. The new command radio link will make it possible to receive signals via relay satellites Luch-5, which will significantly increase the radio coverage zone for the spacecraft – up to 70% of an orbit. The spacecraft are are equipped with an advanced onboard radio system for rendezvous and docking Kurs-NA. Instead of the analog TV system Klyost, the spacecraft will use a digital TV system. The onboard equipment of the Soyuz MS and Progress MS series spacecraft includes a new Digital Backup Loop Control Unit developed by RSC Energia, an upgraded Rate Sensor Unit BDUS-3A and a LED headlight SFOK. Thanks to the use of new ground and onboard radio systems, it became possible to use state-of-the-art data transmission protocols, which resulted in improved operational stability of spacecraft control system.