What safety measures are being taken during the uncrewed launch of the Soyuz rocket?
NASA TV Live As Uncrewed Replacement Soyuz Rocket Prepares to Launch
On this Saturday, October 17, 2020, the German and Russian space agencies have joined forces to launch the first-ever uncrewed replacement soyuz rocket to supply cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA TV is broadcasting the launch live, and viewers around the world are invited to watch.
Stateside Launch
The unmanned Progressive Soyuz-2.1a cargo craft, or Progress 74, is scheduled to launch from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome at 1:45 pm EDT. The rocket is carrying nearly three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the experimental space station.
What to Expect from the Launch
The spacecraft will arrived at the space station, two days after launch. Once the Progress is at the space station, Nasa astronauts on board the ISS will use the robotic Canadarm2 to grapple, then dock, the spacecraft.
NASA’s Viewers
NASA invites people to watch the launch live with them on their correspondent NASA TV website, which will feature live and interactive coverage of today’s mission beginning at 1:15 pm EDT to witness the launch in realtime.
What Will Progress 74 Accomplish?
Progress 74 will deliver several tons of supplies and refueling for the space station. The cargo includes:
- Food, water and oxygen for the astronauts living and working on the space station.
- Scientific hardware, experiments, and supplies for the studies astronauts will conduct on board the station.
- Refueling to ensure the optimal performance of the station.
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The success of this mission is important for the sake of further space exploration and experiments as well as continued life in the International Space Station. NASA TV will be watching and covering this launch in real time, so be sure to tune in to follow the mission as it unfolds.
Resources
Today marks an exciting milestone in space exploration as an uncrewed Soyuz spacecraft is set to launch from Kazakhstan to the International Space Station (ISS). With humans inside, these launches have become a symbol of scientific achievement as well as human coexistence. Today’s mission will be the first time an uncrewed Soyuz will be used replace an already-docked Soyuz at the station.
The launch of the Soyuz is scheduled for today at 5:45 p.m. EDT (21:45 GMT) and can be seen live on NASA TV. The spacecraft is set to dock with the ISS at 8:45 p.m. EDT (00:45 GMT on October 13th). The launch will be the first of its kind and is designed to provide a hassle-free replacement for the existing Soyuz at the station.
This uncrewed launch marks a departure from the traditional way of launching Soyuz spacecraft and offers a degree of operational flexibility now possible with advances in robotics and mission planning. The launch also marks the first time that a docked Soyuz at the station will have been replaced by an uncrewed spacecraft.
The uncrewed Soyuz is carrying supplies and experiments to help sustain life aboard the ISS. This includes a special experiment involving silkworm eggs and protein crystals that are intended to help scientists better understand changes in biological materials in the microgravity environment.
This special mission marks a unique moment in space exploration, one that could potentially pave the way for a more efficient and reliable system of cargo resupply and crew transport in the future. Be sure to follow the mission today as the uncrewed Soyuz prepares to launch and stream it live on NASA TV.