Soyuz and Progress spacecraft share a high degree of structural and system similarity
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
refutedsupported
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AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Reference documentation and expert analysis confirm that the Progress cargo spacecraft is a direct derivative of the Soyuz design, sharing a high degree of structural and system similarity.
## → Progress
Progress is an expendable unmanned cargo spacecraft, developed to regularly re-supply the International Space Station.
The Progress vehicle is derived from the Soyuz spaceship design.
### Russian un-manned cargo spacecraft
ERASMUS Centre - Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations
PROJECT:
TITLE: Progress DOCUMENT N°:
International Space Station
REV. ESA-HSO-COU-034 2.0
### The Progress Spacecraft
The Progress space craft is composed by three major modules: - the Cargo Module (CM), - the Re-fuelling Module (RM), and - the Propulsion Module (PM).
The Cargo Module (CM)
The CM is a pressurized spherical structure which is filled with
cargo supplies to the ISS. Once docked and the crew has equalized
the pressure, the cargo is removed and transferred. The volume
that has been left empty is filled with all the rubbish and the
equipment that needs to be disposed.
This module is burned during its destructive re-entry into the
Earth’s atmosphere.
The Re-fuelling Module (RM)
The RM is located in the middle of the Progress and it replaces the
Soyuz’s DM. This is an un-pressurized propellant and refuelling
compartment for safety reasons insulated from
Progress (spacecraft)
Progress (Russian: Прогресс) is a Russian expendable cargo spacecraft. Originally developed for the Soviet space program and derived from the crewed Soyuz spacecraft, Progress has been instrumental in maintaining long-duration space missions by providing consumables like food, water, and air, as well as maintenance equipment. Since its maiden flight in 1978, Progress has supported various space stations, including Salyut 6, Salyut 7, and Mir, and remains a key resupply vehicle for the International Space Station(ISS).
Each Progress mission delivers thousands of kilograms of supplies in its pressurized module. It also carries water, fuel, and gases to replenish the station's resources and sustain its onboard atmosphere. Beyond resupply duties, a docked Progress can maneuver or reboost the station, countering atmospheric drag and maintaining its operational altitude. When a Progress spacecraft nears the end of its design life, it is loaded with waste, undocked, and deorbited to safely make a destructive reentry in Earth's atmosphere.
As of November 2024
, there have been 182 Progress flights, with only three failures, all occurring between 2011 and 2016. Typ
# How similar are Soyuz and Progress?
Tags: iss, soyuz-spacecraft, russia, progress
- Score: 16
- Views: 21202
- Answers: 2
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: ForgeMonkey (7160 rep)
- Asked: 2014-10-29
- Edited: 2015-01-31
- Site: space
## Question
Superficially the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft look very similar:
(Soyuz TMA-7)
(Progress M-52)
So it would be easy to imagine that they share a common service module and/or orbital module. But does anyone know if this is the case, or how many common systems they do in fact share?
## Answers
### Answer by Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (score: 18 [ACCEPTED])
They are essentially the same. The Progress resupply spacecraft is a direct derivative of the Soyuz, where the reentry module was replaced by a fuel tank. Hence the similar shape.
Both are launched with the same Soyuz rockets.
### Answer by Puffin (score: 4)
The two photographs you have posted show that the Soyuz middle section is longer than the corresponding re-entry module of Soyuz.
You can also see the differences between the Soyuz and Progress here Wiki. They are significantly different in that for Progress the re-entry capsule has been replaced and the ISS crew has no access other tha
Everything we examined (3)
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