Russia Launches Cargo Mission to International Space Station
Russia launched its Progress 93 cargo spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 11, 2025, sending 2.8 tons of supplies to the International Space Station for Expedition 73.
Russia successfully launched its Progress 93 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) on September 11, 2025, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The uncrewed freighter, carrying approximately 2.8 tons of food, fuel, water, and scientific equipment, is set to resupply the seven-member Expedition 73 crew currently aboard the ISS.
The Soyuz 2.1a rocket lifted off at 11:54 a.m. EDT (1554 GMT), marking the third Russian cargo mission to the ISS this year. The Progress 93 vehicle is expected to autonomously dock with the station's Zvezda service module on September 13, at 1:27 p.m. EDT, following a two-day orbital chase. This delivery ensures the continued support of scientific research and daily operations on the orbiting laboratory.
Busy Week for ISS Logistics
The launch comes amid a period of heightened activity for the ISS, with two cargo missions scheduled just days apart. Prior to Progress 93's arrival, the Progress 91 vehicle, which had been docked for over six months, undocked from the station on September 9 and was deorbited over the Pacific Ocean, making room for the new shipment. The U.S. Cygnus NG-23 cargo ship is also scheduled to launch on September 14, further bolstering the station's inventory.
International Collaboration and Crew Preparations
The Progress 93 mission highlights the ongoing international collaboration that sustains the ISS. While the Russian vehicle delivers essential supplies, American, Japanese, and European partners also contribute to the station's logistics chain. In preparation for the docking, Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky rehearsed manual rendezvous procedures as a contingency, though the docking is expected to proceed automatically.
The steady cadence of resupply missions is critical for the ISS, enabling continuous scientific research and supporting the health and well-being of its crew. These operations also demonstrate the complex choreography required to maintain humanity's longest-running outpost in space, with vehicles from multiple nations arriving and departing in a carefully coordinated sequence.