Russia’s Progress MS-35 docks with ISS after delivering over 2.4 tons of supplies
Russia launched the Progress MS-35 (Progress 96) cargo spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 16, 2024, carrying over 2.4 tons of supplies, fuel, and equipment to the International Space Station. The spacecraft docked with the Rassvet module on September 19. The mission used an upgraded Soyuz-2.1b rocket for the first time on a Progress flight and supports routine station maintenance and crew operations.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both sides agree the Progress MS-35 mission was a technically successful cargo delivery to the ISS.
- Both acknowledge the ISS partnership is under geopolitical strain, with Russia planning its own ROSS station.
- Both recognize Russia has a real manual docking capability that adds operational redundancy.
- Both agree that sanctions have created challenges for Russia's space program, though they disagree on the severity.
Points of contention
- Neutral Agent says Russia's space program is in managed decline due to budget and technology limits, while Eastern Agent says it shows strategic resilience and adaptation under pressure.
- Eastern Agent argues the Soyuz-2.1b upgrade proves advancing capabilities, but Neutral Agent calls it a minor configuration change with no strategic impact.
- Neutral Agent claims Russia needs the ISS more than the West does, while Eastern Agent says Russia's propulsion control gives it leverage.
- Eastern Agent insists ROSS is a funded program with hardware under construction, but Neutral Agent says it's an underfunded design study with no realistic budget.
Blind spots
- Both sides overlook the long-term economic reality: the ISS partnership is driven by cost-sharing, not trust, and neither side has a clear plan for after the station ends.
- The debate ignores the role of private companies like SpaceX in reducing Western dependence on Russian hardware, which changes the leverage dynamic.
- Neither side fully addresses how Russia's reliance on Soviet-era designs limits its ability to innovate in new areas like deep space exploration.
WorldAttention’s read
This Progress mission shows Russia can still reliably fly cargo to the ISS, but it doesn't change the bigger picture. Russia's space program is competent at what it's always done, but it's struggling to build new capabilities under sanctions and a tight budget. The ISS partnership continues because both sides need it for now, but the trust and long-term stability are fading. The real story isn't about one launch—it's about two partners stuck together, each preparing for a future where they might go their separate ways.
Reporting timeline
Russia's Progress MS-35 Cargo Spacecraft Docks with International Space Station
On September 19, Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos announced that the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft completed a manual docking with the Rassvet module of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft was launched aboard a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on September 16, Moscow time, and subsequently entered its planned orbit successfully. The announcement was made via Roscosmos's official website and reported by Xinhua News Agency.
Russia Launches Progress MS-35 Cargo Spacecraft to International Space Station
Russia launched its Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft on September 16 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, bound for the International Space Station (ISS). According to a statement from Roscosmos, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle carrying the spacecraft lifted off at approximately 16:34 Moscow time. The spacecraft has entered its planned orbit and is continuing its journey to the ISS. It is scheduled to dock with the ISS on September 19. The statement noted that the Progress MS-35 will deliver more than 2.4 tons of supplies to the ISS. The report was sourced from Xinhua International.
Read sourceRussia Launches Progress MS-35 Cargo Spacecraft to International Space Station
On September 16, Russia launched the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, heading for the International Space Station (ISS). The Russian State Space Corporation announced that the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle carrying the spacecraft lifted off at approximately 16:34 Moscow time. The spacecraft has entered its planned orbit and is continuing its journey to the ISS. As scheduled, the spacecraft will dock with the ISS on September 19. The announcement stated that the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft will deliver more than 2.4 tons of supplies to the ISS on this mission.
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Russia's Progress MS-35 Cargo Spacecraft Launches to Resupply International Space Station
On September 16, 2024, at 16:34 Moscow time (21:34 Beijing time), Russia's State Space Corporation (Roscosmos) launched the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft is carrying over 2.4 tons of supplies for the International Space Station (ISS), including cargo for station maintenance and crew scientific operations. This mission marks the first use of the upgraded Soyuz-2.1b variant for a Progress cargo spacecraft; previous Progress launches used the Soyuz-2.1a rocket. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the Prichal module of the Russian segment of the ISS at 21:47 Beijing time on September 19. The report was cited by Cailian Press from CCTV News.
Russia launches Progress 96 cargo spacecraft with 3 tons of supplies to ISS
Russia launched the Progress 96 (also designated Progress MS-35) cargo spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Saturday, carrying approximately 3 tons of supplies, fuel, and equipment to the International Space Station. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS later on Saturday. Multiple news sources, including Space.com, NASA, Aviation Week, and Russian media outlet www1.ru, reported on the launch. The mission is a routine resupply flight to support the crew aboard the orbiting laboratory.
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