According to information from the TASS news agency, the cargo spacecraft Progress MS-25 was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 1 and is expected to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) on December 3.
Cargo spacecraft Progress MS-25. (Photo: Roscosmos).
The Institute of Health and Biology at the Russian Academy of Sciences has reported that the crew will receive various food items including tangerines, oranges, and New Year’s candies via the Progress MS-25 spacecraft. Traditionally in Russia, people eat tangerines to celebrate the New Year. Additionally, the spacecraft is carrying dried meats, beef and venison, mustard and adjika, apples, grapefruits, and lemons.
“Progress MS-25 is transporting a total of 2,528 kg of cargo to the ISS, including 515 kg of refueling fuel, 420 liters of drinking water, 40 kg of compressed nitrogen in cylinders, and approximately 1,553 kg of various equipment and materials including medical equipment and sanitary supplies,” the Russian Academy of Sciences further stated.
Notably, 48 Japanese quail eggs will also be transported from Earth to the space station. According to Izvestia, the astronauts will conduct an experiment hatching quail eggs in space using a device called Kvarts-M.
Previously, news outlets reported that the Soyuz launch vehicle would carry the Progress MS-25 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on December 1. The rocket launch occurred at 12:25 PM Moscow time. The Russian cargo ship is expected to dock with the Poisk module on the ISS at 2:15 PM on December 3, Moscow time. According to Roscosmos, the spacecraft will remain in orbit for 179 days.
Earlier, on November 29, a cargo spacecraft Progress MS-23 left the ISS orbit but unfortunately fell and sank in the Pacific Ocean. The Progress MS-23 vessel was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 24 using the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle. On this trip, the spacecraft transported 2.5 tons of cargo to the ISS.
