BrandWikiReturn

Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station

Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station (ISS) are made primarily to deliver cargo, however several Russian modules have also docked to the outpost following uncrewed launches. Resupply missions typically use the Russian Progress spacecrafts, i.e, Progress-M (Standard and Modified), Progress-M1 and Progress MS series vehicles, European Automated Transfer Vehicles, Japanese Kounotori vehicles, and the American Dragon 1 and 2 vehicles and Cygnus (Standard, Enhanced and XL series) spacecraft. The primary docking system for Progress spacecraft is the automated Kurs system, with the manual TORU system as a backup. ATVs also use Kurs, however they are not equipped with TORU. The other spacecraft — the Japanese HTVs and HTV-Xs, the SpaceX Dragon (under CRS phase 1) and the Northrop Grumman[1] Cygnus vehicles — rendezvous with the station before being grappled using Canadarm2 and berthed at the nadir port of the Harmony or Unity module for one to two months. Progress, Cygnus and ATV can remain docked for up to six months.[2][3] Under CRS phase 2, SpaceX Cargo Dragon docks autonomously at IDA-2 or 3 as the case may be. As of March 2026, Progress spacecraft have flown most of the uncrewed missions to the ISS.

To avoid confusion, this list includes Soyuz MS-23, which was launched uncrewed and landed crewed, but does not include Soyuz MS-22 and Boeing Crewed Flight Test, which was launched crewed and landed uncrewed, which is listed at List of human spaceflights to the International Space Station.

Current and completed spaceflights

This is a list of uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station.

Key to box background colors:

Note: Russia has delivered cargo via the uncrewed missions of Progress since the launch of the ISS, while the U.S. had used Space Shuttles for hybrid human/cargo missions, resulting in a greater number of Russian uncrewed flights to the ISS. Since the discontinuation of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, the numbers of crewed and uncrewed flights by the U.S. and Russia are more closely matched.

For vehicles that are berthed to the station using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) the times of berthing and unberthing are given. For those vehicles whose berthing and unberthing time is not sure is not provided, SSRMS capture and release is taken. This is because these vehicles remain physically attached to the station longer than indicated when counting the time between initial SSRMS capture and release. Formerly, the Japanese HTV and the SpaceX Dragon and currently, the Cygnus are the visiting vehicles to attach in this manner. For all other vehicles the times of docking and undocking are given.

  • Module launch
  • Launch failure, spacecraft did not reach orbit
  • Partial failure, spacecraft reached orbit but did not rendezvous with ISS

Future spaceflights

Manifested future flights are shown below:

Spaceports

Baikonur Cosmodrome

Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is the oldest and busiest spaceport. The first module of the ISS was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81 as the uncrewed spacecraft Zarya in 1998 and flew uncrewed for about two years before the first crew arrived. The Progress spacecraft is the most frequent cargo ship sent from Baikonur to the station, bringing supplies such as food, fuel, gas, experiments, and parts. Its light payload is offset by its ability to deliver critical replacement parts at short notice. Fresh fruit and vegetables from the earth are an important part of the crew's diet.

Tanegashima Space Center

Located in Japan on an island 115 km south of Kyūshū, the Tanegashima Space Center (TCS) is the launch site for H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), called Oriental stork or white stork (こうのとり) and HTV-X, used to resupply the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) and the ISS. The name Kounotori was chosen for the HTV by JAXA because "a white stork carries an image of conveying an important thing (a baby, happiness, and other joyful things), therefore, it precisely expresses the HTV's mission to transport essential materials to the ISS".[92]

White Kounotori can carry 6000 kg of cargo in total, about 3500 - 4500 kg of which is accessible by the crew in the pressurized section, the remainder is unpressurised cargo on Exposed Pallet to be handled by the ISS's robotic arm.[93]

Guiana Space Centre

The European Space Agency (ESA) uses the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou in French Guiana. Operational since 1968, it is particularly suitable as a location for a spaceport due to its proximity to the equator, and that launches are in a favorable direction over water. The near-equatorial launch location provides an advantage for launches to low-inclination (or geostationary) Earth orbits compared to launches from spaceports at higher latitude, the eastward boost provided by the Earth's rotation is about 463 m/s at this spaceport.

The ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle weighs 20700 kg at launch and has a cargo capacity of 8000 kg including 1500 to 5500 kg of dry cargo, up to 1000 kg of gases (water, nitrogen, oxygen, air), with up to two gases per flight, and up to 4700 kg of propellant for boosting and refueling the station.

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, located in Florida, United States, has been operational since 1950 with its first orbital launch occurring in 1958. All of NASA's crewed Mercury and Gemini missions were launched from the Cape, along with some of the earlier Apollo missions. Cape Canaveral is adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center, where the majority of Apollo missions and all the Space Shuttle missions were launched from. Under contract with NASA, SpaceX launches the Dragon 2 Cargo variant spacecraft to resupply the American portion of the ISS. The Dragon can transport 6000 kg of pressurized and unpressurized cargo and can return 3000 kg to Earth. It is the only uncrewed resupply vehicle capable of returning a payload.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located at Wallops Island, Virginia, United States, is the launch site for the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft for resupplying the American portion of the ISS.

Future

  • Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located in Sriharikota, an island in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India, for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission which will send one of the uncrewed vehicle to the ISS in late 2026 or 2027 for rendezvous, docking and logistics purpose.[88]

Future

  • Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located in Sriharikota, an island in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India, for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission which will send one of the uncrewed vehicle to the ISS in late 2026 or 2027 for rendezvous, docking and logistics purpose.[88]

See also

External links

References

  1. Acquisition of Orbital ATK approved, company renamed Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems 6 June 2018^
  2. ESA;— ATV;— Crew role in mission control Esa.int, 2011-03-02, retrieved 2011-05-23^
  3. ESA — Human Spaceflight and Exploration;— International Space Station;— Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Esa.int, 2009-01-16, retrieved 2011-05-23^
  4. Alexander Anikeev. Cargo spacecraft "Progress M1-4" Manned Astronautics – Figures & Facts, retrieved 2012-04-22^
  5. NASA. ISS On-Orbit Status 12/23/07 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2007, retrieved 23 December 2007^
  6. NASA. ISS On-Orbit Status 12/26/07 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2007, retrieved 28 December 2007^
  7. NASA. ISS On-Orbit Status 02/04/08 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2008, retrieved 6 Feb 2008^
  8. NASA. ISS On-Orbit Status 02/05/08 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2008, retrieved 7 Feb 2008^
  9. Fresh Cargo Ship Arrives at Space Station space.com, 7 February 2008^
  10. NASA. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/07/08 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2008, retrieved 8 Apr 2008^
  11. Latest freighter heads for International Space Station spaceflightnow.com, 14 October 2009^
  12. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/22/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-04-23^
  13. ISS On-Orbit Status 11/12/09 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2009-11-13^
  14. ISS On-Orbit Status 12/08/09 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2009-12-12^
  15. ISS On-Orbit Status 02/03/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-02-07^
  16. ISS On-Orbit Status 02/05/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-02-07^
  17. ISS On-Orbit Status 05/10/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-05-10^
  18. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/28/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-04-28^
  19. ISS On-Orbit Status 05/01/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-05-01^
  20. ISS On-Orbit Status 10/25/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-10-25^
  21. ISS On-Orbit Status 06/30/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-07-01^
  22. ISS On-Orbit Status 07/04/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-07-04^
  23. ISS On-Orbit Status 08/31/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-08-31^
  24. ISS On-Orbit Status 09/10/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-09-11^
  25. ISS On-Orbit Status 09/12/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-09-13^
  26. ISS On-Orbit Status 02/20/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-02-20^
  27. ISS On-Orbit Status 10/27/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-10-27^
  28. ISS On-Orbit Status 10/30/10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2010-11-01^
  29. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/24/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-01-24^
  30. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/22/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-01-24^
  31. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/27/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-01-27^
  32. Crew Attaches Japanese Resupply Vehicle to Station National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-03-28^
  33. ISS On-Orbit Status 03/28/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-03-28^
  34. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/28/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-01-29^
  35. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/30/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-01-31^
  36. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/22/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-04-23^
  37. ISS On-Orbit Status 02/17/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-02-18^
  38. ISS On-Orbit Status 02/24/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-02-26^
  39. ISS On-Orbit Status 06/20/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-06-20^
  40. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/27/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-04-27^
  41. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/29/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-05-03^
  42. ISS On-Orbit Status 10/29/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-10-30^
  43. ISS On-Orbit Status 06/21/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-06-21^
  44. ISS On-Orbit Status 06/23/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-06-24^
  45. ISS On-Orbit Status 08/23/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 29 Aug 2011^
  46. ISS On-Orbit Status 08/24/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-10-30^
  47. Pete Harding. Russia's Progress M-12M launches toward ISS – fails to achieve orbit NASASpaceFlight.com, 24 Aug 2011, retrieved 24 Aug 2011^
  48. ISS On-Orbit Status 10/30/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-10-30^
  49. ISS On-Orbit Status 11/02/11 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2011-11-02^
  50. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/24/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-01-25^
  51. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/26/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-01-28^
  52. ISS On-Orbit Status 01/28/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-04-19^
  53. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/19/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-04-19^
  54. ISS On-Orbit Status 03/23/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-03-28^
  55. ISS On-Orbit Status 03/29/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-03-28^
  56. ISS On-Orbit Status 09/29/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-09-29^
  57. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/20/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-04-20^
  58. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/22/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-04-22^
  59. ISS On-Orbit Status 07/23/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-07-23^
  60. ISS On-Orbit Status 07/29/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-07-29^
  61. ISS On-Orbit Status 07/31/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-07-31^
  62. ISS On-Orbit Status 05/22/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-05-25^
  63. ISS On-Orbit Status 05/25/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-05-25^
  64. ISS On-Orbit Status 05/31/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-05-31^
  65. ISS On-Orbit Status 07/21/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-07-23^
  66. ISS On-Orbit Status 07/27/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-07-27^
  67. ISS On-Orbit Status 09/12/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-09-13^
  68. Expedition 32 Mission Status Center Spaceflight Now, retrieved 2012-08-02^
  69. SpaceX's Private Dragon Supply Ship Departs Space Station Space.com, 31 May 2012, retrieved 2012-05-31^
  70. ISS On-Orbit Status 10/10/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-10-10^
  71. ISS On-Orbit Status 10/28/12 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, retrieved 2012-10-28^
  72. Russian Cargo Craft Departs National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 13 April 2015, retrieved 15 April 2013^
  73. Dragon Docking With Station Set for Sunday NASA, 2 Mar 2013, retrieved 2 Mar 2013^
  74. Europe's Heaviest Cargo Ship Launched to Space Station European Space Agency^
  75. Russian Cargo Craft Launches on Expedited Trip to Station NASA, 13 April 2015, retrieved 28 July 2013^
  76. "Japan’s HTV4 successfully berths with the ISS", Aug 9, 2013. Retrieved Aug 9, 2013.^
  77. Station Releases a White Stork and Awaits a Swan NASA, 13 April 2015, retrieved 5 September 2013^
  78. NASA tries an inflatable room on the space station, likes it arstechnica.com, 3 October 2017^
  79. ISS welcomes CRS-8 Dragon after flawless launch 9 April 2016^
  80. Dragon Berthed at Harmony Node 2 Module Earth Facing Port NASA, 23 Feb 2017^
  81. Cygnus OA-8 Cargo Craft Departs ISS after Three-Week Stay for CubeSat Deployment & Re-Entry 6 December 2017, retrieved 17 February 2022^
  82. BISHOP AIRLOCK – The Commercial Gateway To Space nanoracks.com^
  83. Schedule of ISS flight events (part 2) forum.nasaspaceflight.com, retrieved 2022-07-31^
  84. Год "Науки" на МКС Roscosmos, 2022-07-29^
  85. Stephen Clark. Launch Schedule Spaceflight Now, 1 April 2023, retrieved 1 April 2023^
  86. Microgravity Research Flights Glenn Research Center, NASA, 17 August 2022, retrieved 1 September 2022^
  87. РАСПИСАНИЕ ЗАПУСКОВ 2023 RocketTrip, retrieved 6 January 2023^
  88. India, US moot Gaganyaan uncrewed docking with ISS; 9th working group meeting to chalk out more details The Times of India, 20 February 2026, retrieved 9 March 2026^
  89. Space Kiss: How India's Gaganyaan will dock with the ISS DNA India, retrieved 9 March 2026^
  90. Gaganyaan Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, retrieved 9 March 2026^
  91. Abhinav Singh. How India's Gaganyaan uncrewed module will dock with the ISS The Week, 19 February 2026, retrieved 9 March 2026^
  92. "KOUNOTORI" Chosen as Nickname of the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) JAXA, 11 November 2010, retrieved 11 November 2010^
  93. HTV Overview JAXA, retrieved 4 December 2016^