Progress 2 (Russian: Прогресс 2) was an unmanned Progress cargo spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union in 1978 to resupply the Salyut 6 space station. It used the Progress 7K-TG configuration, and was the second Progress mission to Salyut 6. It carried supplies for the EO-2 crew aboard Salyut 6, as well as equipment for conducting scientific research, and fuel for adjusting the station's orbit and performing manoeuvres.
Progress 2 was a Progress 7K-TG spacecraft. The second of forty three to be launched, it had the serial number 101.[1][2] The Progress 7K-TG spacecraft was the first generation Progress, derived from the Soyuz 7K-T and intended for unmanned logistics missions to space stations in support of the Salyut programme.[3] On some missions the spacecraft were also used to adjust the orbit of the space station.[4]
The Progress spacecraft had a dry mass of 6,520 kilograms (14,370 lb), which increased to around 7,020 kilograms (15,480 lb) when fully fuelled. It measured 7.48 metres (24.5 ft) in length, and 2.72 metres (8 ft 11 in) in diameter. Each spacecraft could accommodate up to 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) of payload, consisting of dry cargo and propellant. The spacecraft were powered by chemical batteries, and could operate in free flight for up to three days, remaining docked to the station for up to thirty.[3][4]
Following launch, Progress 2 began two days of free flight. It subsequently docked with the aft port of the Salyut 6 space station at 12:58:59 UTC on 9 July.[3][7] At the time of its docking, Soyuz 29 was docked to the forward port of the station. Soyuz 29 remained docked throughout the time Progress 2 was docked.[8]
Mission
Progress 2 was the second of twelve Progress spacecraft used to supply the Salyut 6 space station between 1978 and 1981.[6] It delivered cargo to the station, including Kristall a kiln used for experiments aboard the outpost.[8] Progress 2 also transferred 600 kilograms (1,300 lb) of propellant into Salyut 6's tanks.[9] Whilst Progress 2 was docked, Salyut 6 was manned by the EO-2 crew, consisting of cosmonautsVladimir Kovalyonok and Aleksandr Ivanchenkov.[10]
On 29 July 1978, whilst docked to Salyut 6, Progress 2 was catalogued in a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 327 kilometres (203 mi) and an apogee of 330 kilometres (210 mi), inclined at 51.66° and with a period of 91.1 minutes.[11] Progress 2 undocked from Salyut 6 at 04:57:44 UTC on 2 August. It remained in orbit until the early morning of 4 August 1978, when it was deorbited. The deorbit burn occurred at 01:31:07 UTC, with the spacecraft undergoing a destructive reentry at around 02:15 UTC.[11][7] Less than four days after Progress 2 had been deorbited, Progress 3 was launched to replace it.[2]
^ abMcDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
^ abcWade, Mark. "Progress". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 26 December 2001. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
^ abHall, Rex D.; Shayler, David J. (2003). Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft. Springer-Praxis. pp. 239–250. ISBN1-85233-657-9.
^McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
^ ab"Progress 2". NSSDC Master Catalog. US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 November 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ abD.S.F.Portree (1995). "Mir Hardware Heritage"(PDF). NASA. Archived from the original(PDF) on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Hall, Rex D.; Shayler, David J. (2003). Soyuz: A Universal Spacecraft. Springer-Praxis. pp. 254–255. ISBN1-85233-657-9.
^Wade, Mark. "Salyut 6 EO-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 7 January 2004. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
^ abMcDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in (brackets).