Russia has launched a cargo ship carrying supplies and equipment for the International Space Station, celebrating the centennial of cosmonaut Pavel Belyayev’s birth. The Progress MS-30 spacecraft was adorned with logos commemorating Belyayev’s historic spacewalk in 1965 and his upcoming 100th birthday.
The launch took place on February 28 at 4:24 p.m. EST, and the Progress ship will autonomously dock to the ISS on Saturday, March 1. The cargo includes clothing, food, medical supplies, and a new spacesuit for Russian spacewalks, as well as equipment for scientific experiments.
Belyayev was born in 1925 and became the oldest cosmonaut to fly into space at 39. He died in 1970 due to complications from surgery. The Progress MS-30 is the 91st Russian resupply craft to launch since 1998, supporting the ISS program and marking another milestone for Russia’s space exploration efforts.
The spacecraft will remain docked to the station for about six months before being refilled with refuse and trash by the ISS crew and then destroyed in a destructive reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/russia-iss-cargo-ship-launch-honors-cosomonaut-centennial