After String of Failures, Tonight’s Russian Rocket Launch Really Counts

Russian rocket launch do n’t get nigh as much child’s play as , say , a SpaceX launching . But in light of recent event , the Soyuz rocket blasting into orbit at 12:55 AM EST tonight , which will carry a space vehicle load with food and supplies to the International Space Station , is more important than usual .

The eight - ton Russian Progress M-28 M craftsmanship will be jam with 926 pound of H2O , 105 pounds of air and oxygen , 3,071 pounds of solid food , aesculapian supply and hardware , and 1,146 pounds of propellant , accord toSpaceflight Now . While Russian Progress missions to the ISS are quite unremarkable ( this will brand the 60th such charge since 2000 ) , the recent chain of give out resupply missions is fresh on everybody ’s mind , and make a successful launch tonight really , really of import .

On Sunday , a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocketdisintegrated bit after liftoff , taking with it a Dragon condensation carry with over 4,000 pounds of supplies and 30 student research projects . On April 28th , a Progress bottom bound for the ISS start spin dizzily out of control condition shortly after launch , a trouble that was blamed on shakiness in the connectedness between the ballistic capsule and the third stage of its rocket salad , which was flying an upgraded Soyuz-2.1a configuration . ( Friday ’s launching will engage the older Soyuz - atomic number 92 rocket , which Russia tell is n’t susceptible to the anomaly that caused the last commission to defecate out . )

What this all boils down to is that the ISS astronauts have n’t received any young supplying since April 14th , when SpaceX ’s sixth commercial resupply abridgment successfully rendezvous with the station . But on Sunday , NASA assured the populace that the three - somebody work party currently in orbit has enough supplies to make it until October . And if tonight ’s launch fails , there ’s still a Japanese HTV resupply craft going up in mid - August . What ’s more , NASA says it ’s still on - track to plunge three extra crew memberson July 22nd , pending a last cycle of readiness reviews . If NASA felt there was a serious provision shortfall , that crew deputation would ’ve already been canceled .

In other Good Book , the place power that be are n’t too distressed — yet . Still , let ’s all pass over our finger , hold our breath , and beg to a high power of choice that tonight ’s launch is a success . NASA will be live streaming the event and you’re able to tune in right here :

https://www.ustream.tv/embed/recorded/6540154?v=3&wmode=direct

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