Live Coverage: Russia to launch cargo to the International Space Station

File photo of a supply ship approaching the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV/Spaceflight Now

A Russian Progress cargo ship is scheduled to blast off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Tuesday carrying supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. Liftoff is scheduled for 9:08 p.m. EDT (0108 UTC).

The uncrewed spacecraft, which is carrying about three tons of cargo will make 34 orbits of Earth before making the Kours automated docking at the space station’s Zvezda module on Aug. 24 at 11:50 p.m. EDT (0350 UTC). The craft is expect to stay at the orbiting outpost for six months before departing on one final mission to dispose of the station’s trash in a fiery reentry.

NASA designates this mission Progress 85 but Russia uses the designation Progress MS-24. It will the 117th flight of a Progress spacecraft since its debut in 1978. The cargo freighter previously served the Salyut and Mir space stations launched during the era of the Soviet Union.

Watch the launch live in our Launch Pad Live stream.