Progress M-53

Capability: ISS Logistics
Maiden Flight: 1978-01-20
Flight Life: 6 Months docked to ISS

Payload Capacity: 1700

Progress M-53 (Russian: Прогресс М-53), identified by NASA as Progress 18 or 18P, was a Progress spacecraft used to resupply the International Space Station.

History

Progress is derived from the manned Soyuz spacecraft and is launched on the same vehicle, a Soyuz rocket. The bureau in charge of designing the freighter was TsKBEM (now RKK Energia). They began work on the design in mid-1973. Maiden flight was achieved on January 20, 1978. Still in use today, it has gone through six changes to its design, each improving on the last.

The purpose of Progress is to deliver supplies needed to sustain human presence in orbit. Currently it is used as a re-supply spacecraft for the ISS.

Agency

Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
Type: Government

The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, commonly known as Roscosmos, is the governmental body responsible for the space science program of the Russian Federation and general aerospace research. Soyuz has many launch locations the Russian sites are Baikonur, Plesetsk and Vostochny however Ariane also purchases the vehicle and launches it from French Guiana.