News

On April 28, 2015, at 10.09.50 a.m. Moscow time, Progress-M-27M cargo transport spacecraft was launched from Baikonur cosmodrome by Soyuz-2.1A carrier rocket in the course of flight-and-design tests.

The launch and the flight of the rocket ran in the regular mode. However, 1.5 seconds before the scheduled time of the spacecraft’s detachment from the 3rd stage of the carrier rocket, a telemetric information breakup was registered. Yet, it was established later that the spacecraft had detached on time.

The measures taken on April 28, 2015, partially restored the functionality of the telemetric system. Still, certain systems and aggregates of the spacecraft appeared to be functioning in the non-nominal mode. The test of the propulsion control and navigation system detected the rotation of the spacecraft at the speed of 90 degrees per second. Moreover, the cargo transport spacecraft and the 3rd stage of the carrier rocket were found in the target orbit (around 30 km away from it) by the space control means.

An additional testing of the spacecraft’s systems and aggregates on April 29, 2015, revealed breakdowns of individual elements and nodes of the spacecraft, as well as the loss of airtightness of the propulsion unit trunks. That is why the further flight and docking of the cargo transport spacecraft do not seem possible. Currently, the onboard systems of the aggregate are being monitored. Roscosmos experts are monitoring the spacecraft’s orbit and will promptly report the developments.

Currently, Progress-M-27M cargo transport spacecraft is posing no threat to the ISS, due to a significant difference between the orbit altitudes. On May 5-7, Progress-M-27M cargo transport spacecraft will leave the orbit and burn off in the atmosphere.

The problem of providing the ISS with cargos is solved. In the 3rd quarter of 2015, Progress-M-28M cargo transport spacecraft is scheduled to be launched (the spacecraft is already at the cosmodrome), and Progress-M-29M cargo transport spacecraft is scheduled to be launched in the 4th quarter of 2015.

The State Commission for manned space complex flight tests has decided to form a board for the emergency investigation. The conclusions are to be made by May 13, 2015.