How a 2.8-ton cargo ship navigates the orbital rendezvous

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A Russian Progress cargo ship is currently on a high-stakes journey toward the International Space Station. Carrying vital supplies like fuel and food, the unpiloted craft must execute a precise orbital dance, testing new software and telemetry systems to ensure a successful docking with the orbital outpost.

The latest mission involves the unpiloted Progress 62 cargo ship, which launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on December 21. The launch occurred at 3:44 a.m. Eastern time, with the craft reaching orbit in less than nine minutes. This specific mission is designed as a two-day journey, serving as a deliberate test for upgraded telemetry systems and software during its rendezvous with the station.

The logistics of orbital resupply require meticulous timing. For the Progress 62 mission, docking to the Pirs Dock/Docking Compartment is scheduled for Wednesday, December 23. These missions are essential for the Expedition 46 crew, as the craft carries approximately 2.8 tons of necessary supplies, including food and fuel, to sustain life in microgravity.

The complexity of these operations extends beyond automated sequences. While many arrivals are automated, cosmonauts like Commander Sergey Ryzhikov and Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritsky undergo rigorous training to manually control approaching craft. This preparation is vital in the unlikely event that a ship, such as the upcoming Progress 93, fails to complete its automated docking to the Zvezda service module's aft port.

The station's lifecycle involves a constant cycle of arrival and departure. For instance, the Progress 91 craft was scheduled to undock on a Tuesday to vacate the Zvezda port, eventually reentering Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean to dispose of trash and obsolete gear. This continuous rotation of hardware and supplies ensures that the station remains a functional laboratory for studying human health and plant biology in space.

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