On April 25, 01:51 GMT, the Progress 75 spacecraft launched atop the Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Russian spacecraft was carrying over 2.7 metric tons of propellant, food, and other supplies. Less than 3.5 hours later, at 05:12 GMT, it docked at the International Space Station (ISS) 260 miles (418 kilometers) over northwest China.
Progress 75 is set to remain at the ISS until December. The spacecraft (one of the four spacecraft currently in use for resupplying) will be resupplying three astronauts on board the ISS: Chris Cassidy, Anatoli Ivanishin, and Ivan Vagner.
However, in under a month, the number is set to increase with the arrival of Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley with SpaceX's upcoming maiden manned flight onboard the Crew Dragon in May. It will be the first orbital human spaceflight to launch from the United States since NASA's space shuttle fleet was retired nine years back in July 2011. Should things go according to plan, SpaceX will be cleared to start operational crewed missions to and from the ISS.
After completing its stay till December this year, Progress 75 will undock from the space station and descend towards the earth before burning up in its atmosphere, spelling an end to its operational lifecycle.
Source: Space.com
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