Russias Roscosmos space agency successfully launched a cargo spacecraft toward the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, carrying New Years gifts alongside essential supplies.A Soyuz-2 rocket carrying the Progress MS-29 cargo ship lifted off from Kazakhstans Baikonur Cosmodrome at 3:22 p.m.
Moscow time, according to Roscosmos.
The unmanned vessel is set to dock with the ISS at 5:36 p.m.
on Saturday after spending two days in orbit.The spacecraft is delivering nearly 2,500 kilogramsof cargo, including more than 1,100 kilograms of food, clothing and scientific equipment.
It also contains 869 kilograms of refueling fuel, 420 liters of drinking water, and 43 kilograms of compressed nitrogen.Cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin said last week that the Expedition 72 crew on the ISS is eagerly anticipating New Years gifts from their families and friends, which are included in the shipment.After six months attached to the stations Poisk module, Progress MS-29 will jettison filled with trash and burn up upon re-entering Earths atmosphere.This marks the seventh launch from Baikonur in 2024.