Progress M-21M

Progress M-21M (Russian: Прогресс М-21М), identified by NASA as Progress 53P, was a Progress spacecraft used by Roskosmos to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) during 2013.^[1] Progress M-21M was built by RKK Energia.

Progress M-21M

Progress M-21M undocking from the ISS during the 2nd Kurs system test on 23 April 2014.
Mission type	ISS resupply
Operator	Roskosmos
COSPAR ID	39456
SATCAT no.	2013-069A
Mission duration	196 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Progress-M s/n 421
Manufacturer	RKK Energia
Launch mass	7250 kg
Start of mission
Launch date	25 November 2013, 20:53:06 UTC
Rocket	Soyuz-U
Launch site	Baikonur, Site 31/6
End of mission
Disposal	Deorbited
Decay date	9 June 2014, 17:23 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Inclination	51.6°
Epoch	25 November 2013
Docking with ISS
Docking port	Zvezda aft
Docking date	29 November 2013, 22:30:20 UTC
Undocking date	23 April 2014, 08:58 UTC
Time docked	145 days
Docking with ISS
Docking port	Zvezda aft
Docking date	25 April 2014, 12:13 UTC
Undocking date	9 June 2014, 13:29 UTC
Time docked	45 days
Cargo
Mass	2398 kg
Progress ISS Resupply ← Progress M-20M Progress M-22M →

Launch

The spacecraft was launched on time at 20:53:06 UTC on 25 November 2013 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.^[1]

Docking

The Kurs-NA docking system was tested by Progress M-21M during a fly-by of the ISS on 28 November 2013.^[2] Progress M-21M later docked with the ISS on 29 November 2013 at 22:30:20 UTC.^[3]

Cargo

Progress M-21M delivers goods to the ISS, as fuel components, water, service equipment, equipment for scientific experiments, containers with food, and parcels for the crew. The total mass of all delivered goods is 2398 pounds.

Orbit change

On 13 March 2014, Progress M-21M was used to raise the orbit of the ISS by "two kilometers" after an engine burn of "almost ten minutes".^[4]

Kurs-NA docking system re-test

Due to problems with the Kurs-NA docking system during the last test in November 2013, another test with the system was successfully done during a two-day free flying period in April 2014. Progress M-21M undocked from the Zvezda module at 08:58 UTC on 23 April 2014 and was guided back to the same docking port two days later, docking at 12:13 UTC on 25 April 2014.^[5]

Undocking and reentry

Progress M-21M undocked from the ISS on 9 June 2014 at 13:29 UTC and was deorbited the same day at 17:23 UTC.