The unpiloted Progress 93 cargo spacecraft safely docked to the aft port of the International Space Station’s Zvezda module at 1:23 p.m. EDT on Sept. 13, 2025, delivering about three metric tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the Expedition 73 crew. The Roscosmos vehicle will remain attached for approximately six months before departing for a controlled re-entry to dispose of station refuse.
Mission Overview
Progress 93 launched at 11:54 a.m. EDT on Sept. 11 (8:54 p.m. Baikonur time) atop a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Following a nominal ascent and orbital phasing, the spacecraft executed an automated rendezvous sequence culminating in its berthing at Zvezda’s aft docking port.
The resupply mission sustains ISS operations by replenishing consumables and delivering spare parts, maintenance hardware, and research support items. The spacecraft’s propellant load can also be used for station attitude control tasks and, if required, for orbit-raising maneuvers during its docked stay.
What’s Onboard
According to mission updates, the cargo manifest totals roughly three tons across dry goods and propellants. Typical Progress deliveries include crew provisions, experiment logistics, and hardware for life-support and power systems. The propellant segment enables prop transfer to the Service Module and provides options for reboosts to maintain the laboratory’s operating altitude in low Earth orbit.
Station Traffic and Configuration
With Progress 93 secured to Zvezda’s aft port, the ISS is hosting a busy complement of visiting vehicles:
- SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft
- SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon spacecraft
- Soyuz MS-27 crew ship
- Progress 92 resupply ship
- Progress 93 resupply ship
This traffic model underscores continuous logistics support from international partners and provides redundancy for cargo and crew transportation needs.
Operations and Next Steps
Over the coming days, Expedition 73 will begin unloading time-sensitive materials and staging the remainder of the manifest for station use. Waste collection and packing will occur gradually, with disposal scheduled when Progress 93 undocks for its deorbit at mission end. Throughout its stay, the vehicle can support routine attitude control and may be tasked for reboost operations as planning and atmospheric drag conditions warrant.
The mission maintains cadence for ISS resupply, ensuring steady support for research operations and systems upkeep. It also preserves the station’s margin for consumables and critical spares as the program continues to balance multiple visiting spacecraft.
For the official mission update and timeline, refer to NASA’s post: Progress 93 Cargo Craft Docks to Station Resupplying Crew.
