Mission type ISS resupply COSPAR ID 39456 Launch date 25 November 2013 | Operator Roskosmos SATCAT no. 2013-069A Disposal Deorbited Decay date 9 June 2014 | |
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Manufacturer S. P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia Similar Progress M‑19M, Progress M‑20M, Progress M‑18M, Progress M‑22M, Progress M‑23M | ||
Progress M-21M (Russian: Прогресс М-21М), identified by NASA as Progress 53 or 53P, is a Progress spacecraft used by Roskosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) during 2013. Progress M-21M was built by RKK Energia.
Contents
Launch
The spacecraft was launched on time at 20:53:06 UTC on 25 November 2013 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Docking
The Kurs-NA docking system was tested by Progress M-21M during a fly-by of the ISS on 28 November 2013. Progress M-21M later docked with the ISS on 29 November 2013 at 22:30:20 UTC.
Cargo
Progress M-21M delivers to the ISS about two and a half tons of cargo, including fuel components, water, service equipment, equipment for scientific experiments, containers with food and parcels for the crew. The total mass of all delivered goods is 2398 pounds.
Orbit change
On 13 March 2014, M-21M was used to raise the orbit of the ISS by "two kilometers" after an engine burn of "almost ten minutes".
Kurs-NA docking system re-test
Due to problems with the Kurs-NA docking system during the last test in November 2013, another test with the system was successfully done during a 2 day free flying period in April 2014. Progress M-21M undocked from the Zvezda module at 08:58 UTC on April 23, 2014 and was guided back to the same docking port 2 days later, docking at 12:13 UTC on April 25.
Undocking and Reentry
Progress M-21M undocked from the ISS on June 9, 2014 at 13:29 UTC and was de-orbited the same day at 17:23 UTC.