Progress MS-12 (), Russian production No.442, identified by NASA as Progress 73P, was a Progress (spacecraft), Progress spaceflight operated by Roscosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). This was the 164th flight of a Progress spacecraft.

History

The Progress (spacecraft), 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: * 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. * Enhanced redundancy thanks to the addition of a backup system of electrical motors for the docking and sealing mechanism. * Improved Micrometeoroid (MMOD) protection with additional panels in the cargo compartment. * Luch (satellite), Luch Russian Communications satellite, relay satellites link capabilities enable telemetry and control even when not in direct view of ground radio stations. * Satellite navigation, GNSS autonomous navigation enables real time determination of the status vector and orbital parameters dispensing with the need of ground station orbit determination. * 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. * The Ukraine, Ukrainian Chezara Kvant-V on board radio system and antenna/feeder system has been replaced with a Unified Command Telemetry System (UCTS). * Replacement of the Kurs (docking navigation system), Kurs A with Kurs (docking navigation system)#Kurs-NA, Kurs NA digital system.

Pre-launch

In 2014, the launch was planned for 1 July 2018, rescheduled for 5 June 2019 and rescheduled to 31 July 2019. The liftoff had been initially set for the two-day rendezvous profile with the station, but the launch time was later shifted to enable a two-orbit (three-hour) flight to the station.

Launch

Progress MS-12 was launched on 31 July 2019, at 12:10:46 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using a Soyuz-2, Soyuz-2.1a rocket.

Docking

Progress MS-12 docked with the Pirs (ISS module), Pirs docking module. The docking took place 3 hours 18 minutes 31 seconds into the mission (a new record time).

Cargo

The Progress MS-12 spacecraft delivered of dry cargo (in the cargo compartment). * of water (in the Rodnik-system tanks) * of oxygen (in pressurized bottles) * of propellant in the refueling section * of propellant in the integrated propulsion system to the International Space Station. The dry cargo consisted of: * of hardware for onboard systems * of medical supplies * of personal protective gear * of hygiene items * of repairs and servicing equipment * of means of crew support * of food * of payloads * of structural components and other hardware * of NASA cargo.

Undocking and decay

The Progress MS-12 craft undocked from ISS on 29 November 2019 at 10:25 UTC, initiated braking maneuver at 13:39 UTC, re-entered Atmosphere of Earth, Earth's atmosphere at 14:11 UTC (end of mission), with any remaining debris impacting a remote part of Pacific Ocean at 14:19 UTC.

References

{{Orbital launches in 2019 Progress (spacecraft) missions Spacecraft launched in 2019 2019 in Russia Supply vehicles for the International Space Station Spacecraft launched by Soyuz-2 rockets Spacecraft which reentered in 2019