Progress MS-26 (Russian: Прогресс МC-26), Russian production No.456, identified by NASA as Progress 87P, is a Progress spaceflight launched by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). It is the 179th flight of a Progress spacecraft.
History
The Progress-MS is an uncrewed freighter based on the Progress-M featuring improved avionics. This improved variant first launched on 21 December 2015. It has the following improvements:[7][8][9]
New external compartment that enables it to deploy satellites. Each compartment can hold up to four launch containers. First time installed on Progress MS-03.[7][8][9]
Enhanced redundancy thanks to the addition of a backup system of electrical motors for the docking and sealing mechanism.[7][8][9]
Improved Micrometeoroid (MMOD) protection with additional panels in the cargo compartment.[7][8][9]
Luch Russian relay satellites link capabilities enable telemetry and control even when not in direct view of ground radio stations.[7][8][9]
GNSS autonomous navigation enables real time determination of the status vector and orbital parameters dispensing with the need of ground station orbit determination.[7][8][9]
Real time relative navigation thanks to direct radio data exchange capabilities with the space station.
New digital radio that enables enhanced TV camera view for the docking operations.[7][8][9]
Unified Command Telemetry System (UCTS) replaces previous Ukrainian Chezara Kvant-V as the Progress spacecraft's on-board radio and antenna/feeder system.[7][8][9]
A Soyuz-2.1a launched Progress MS-26 to the International Space Station from Baikonur Site 31/6 on 15 February 2024.[10][11] Later, Progress MS-26 will automatically dock with Zvezda and continue its mission on 17 February 2024, supporting Expedition 70 aboard the ISS.[12][13][11]
Cargo
The MS-24 cargo capacity is 2,518 kg (5,551 lb) as follows:[6]
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Cubesats are smaller. Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
