Russian Progress spacecraft delivers 3 tons of cargo to the ISS

Russia’s robotic Progress 96 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, delivering roughly three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the seven-member orbital crew after a three-day orbital chase.

The uncrewed freighter completed its journey at 9:44 a.m. EDT, making contact with the space-facing port of the station’s Poisk module. At the exact moment of docking, the two spacecraft were flying 260 miles above the Black Sea, according to NASA’s docking webcast.

Soyuz Launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome

The launch took place at 6:33 p.m. Baikonur time in Kazakhstan, initiating what would become a precise three-day orbital chase to catch up with the space station. Flight controllers monitored the approach as the freighter closed the distance in orbit before executing the automated docking procedure at the Poisk module port.

Cargo Contents and Station Resupply

The primary objective of the mission is resupplying the multi-agency crew currently living and working in low Earth orbit. The freighter brought up approximately three tons of vital cargo.

The delivery also includes daily essentials required to sustain operations for the personnel currently aboard the outpost.

Expedition 75 Crew and Orbital Operations

The newly arrived supplies will support a united international team comprising seven individuals representing three distinct space agencies. The Expedition 75 crew currently includes NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway, Jessica Meir, and Anil Menon, alongside European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Andrey Fedyaev, and Anna Kikina.

The international team handles a packed schedule of maintenance, spacewalks, and scientific investigations. The newly delivered provisions ensure the station remains fully stocked for ongoing research and safety operations.

Five-Month Stay and Trash Disposal Plan

Progress 96 will not make a quick turnaround. The vehicle is scheduled to remain attached to the orbital complex for approximately five months.

The Progress 96 cargo spacecraft approaches the International Space Station for a docking to the Poisk module — Photo: NASA

During its extended stay, the spacecraft will serve as a storage depot and eventually act as a receptacle for discarded materials. When its mission concludes, ground controllers will command the freighter to undock and execute a planned destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, safely burning up along with station trash over the ocean.