Kuznetsov Engines Launches the Progress-09 Cargo Spacecraft to the International Space Station

Kuznetsov Engines Launches the Progress-09 Cargo Spacecraft to the International Space Station

Photo by: Roscosmos

Serially-built RD-107А/RD-108А engines by Kuznetsov PJSC, Samara-based enterprise of the United Engine Corporation, were used to perform the seventh launch of the Soyuz-type space launch vehicle this year.

The Soyuz-2.1a medium-lift space launch vehicle with the Progress MS-09 Cargo Spacecraft was launched at 12:51 Moscow time on 10 July from the launching site No. 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Launch of RD-107А/RD-108А rocket engines installed on the first and second stages was conducted normally.

As expected, the cargo spacecraft will approach the station and the Pirs docking compartment of the Russian segment of the International Space Station in the automatic mode under control of the ISS Russian segment's Chief Operational Crew located in MCC, and Russian cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev and Sergey Prokopyev.

This will be the second cargo spacecraft to be placed into orbit by serially-built Kuznetsov engines this year. In total, this year saw seven launches of Soyuz-type space launch vehicles with RD-107А/RD-108А engines from four cosmodromes – Baikonur, Vostochny, Plesetsk and Guiana Space Centre.

The spacecraft will deliver to ISS about 2.5 tons of various cargoes, including fuel, compressed gases, water, scientific equipment and components for the life support system, as well as containers with food products, items of clothing, medications and hygiene items for crew members.