![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/3420172546.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPreparations for the flight of Progress MS-14 are continuing inside its Baikonur facility. Work included checkouts of the vehicle\u2019s solar array panels and fueling of the spacecraft. Roscosmos is targetting the launch of the resupply mission to the ISS on April 25.<\/p>\n
The Progress (spelled \u201c\u041f\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0441\u201d in Russian) spacecraft has been a workhorse resupply spacecraft for the Soviet and now Russian space program since its introduction in 1978.<\/p>\n
The first Progress variant, called the Progress 7K-TG, did not feature solar panels. Solar panels were introduced with the Progress-M in 1989.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Technicians in Baikonur load cargo into the Progress MS-14 hatch. Photo Credit: Roscosmos.<\/p>\n
The design of the Progress spacecraft is derived from the Soyuz spacecraft. The serial number for the Progress MS-14 is \u2116448.<\/p>\n
After fueling at the fueling complex, the spacecraft returned to the processing complex at site 254 in Baikonur. The next Progress spacecraft to launch after this one, Progress MS-15, is also being processed in the same facility.<\/p>\n
According to Roscosmos, the Russian resupply craft is being filled with around 700 kg of gas and fuel, 1,350 kg of cargo, 420 liters of water, and the standard and necessary items like food and hygiene kits.<\/p>\n
On April 16, Progress MS-14 was integrated with the transition compartment, which is designed to connect the spacecraft to the third stage of the Soyuz rocket during launch.<\/p>\n
The Transition compartment also allows the fairing to be connected to the launch vehicle. The spacecraft is also protected from the aerodynamic loads and stresses during ascent in the atmosphere by the fairing.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/photo_04-16-08.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Progress MS-14 spacecraft is shown soon after the transition compartment was installed. Photo Credit: RKK Energia.<\/p>\n
Another special set of items that will go to ISS will be special symbols to recognize the 75th anniversary of Russia\u2019s victory in WWII over Nazi Germany, which invaded the Soviet Union. The Russians call their efforts over the Axis powers as the \u201cGreat Patriotic War.\u201d The Russians often use their space missions to mark historical national events.<\/p>\n
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n
This individual Progress launch will also be significant because the Soyuz 2.1a that will launch Progress MS-14 has a special paint scheme to honor the anniversary.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Roscosmos State Corporation will dedicate this launch to the 75th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945,\u201d noted an outline from Roscosmos.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn particular, the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle, which was called the Victory Rocket, will be marked with specialized symbols \u2013 the logo of the 75th anniversary of the Victory, images of the St. George ribbon and orders of the Patriotic War.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/soyuz-2-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
An animation of the Soyuz 2.1a rocket with the special paint scheme. Photo Credit: Homem does Espa\u00e7o.<\/p>\n
This special paint scheme is one of the few 75th-anniversary commemorations for Russia which will not be affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.<\/p>\n
The Soyuz 2.1a rocket for the launch of Progress MS-14 is being prepared in another building. So far, the first stage boosters have been integrated with the second stage.<\/p>\n
On April 18, the spacecraft was rotated horizontally and then rolled into the fairing. The fairing serial number is \u042f15000-125. The spacecraft was then rotated into the vertical position.<\/p>\n
Soon, the spacecraft will be shipped to another building where wit will be integrated to the Soyuz third stage, and then integrated to the rest of the rocket.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/3992283996.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Progress MS-14 spacecraft is seen after fairing integration. Photo Credit: Roscosmos.<\/p>\n
Unlike the recent Soyuz MS-16 launch, Progress MS-14 is not the first Progress craft to launch on a Soyuz 2.1a rocket. Progress M-25M was the first to launch on a Soyuz 2.1a and that launch occurred on October 29, 2014.<\/p>\n
The Progress type of spacecraft was also the last spacecraft to launch on the Soyuz-U rocket. The last Soyuz-U launched Progress MS-05 into orbit on Feb 22, 2017 from Site 1\/5 which is also known as \u201cGagarin\u2019s Start.\u201d The Soyuz-U is the longest-used rocket ever in history.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The last Progress spacecraft to depart the ISS was Progress MS-12. It spent 120 days docked to the Pirs docking compartment until November 29, 2019. Like all Progress spacecraft, it reentered the atmosphere and burned up over the Pacific Ocean filled with trash from Expedition 61.<\/p>\n
Progress MS-13 is currently docked to the Pirs docking compartment and has been since December 9, 2019. It is scheduled to depart in July this year.<\/p>\n
The spacecraft will launch from site 31\/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, located in the Republic of Kazakhstan. This launch comes as 2020 has been a busy year so far for the launch complex. So far, there have been two OneWeb launches and the recent Soyuz MS-16 launch.<\/p>\n
However, Site 31\/6, which has been launching R-7 related rockets since 1961 (59 years) is still going strong.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n