Technicians at the Baikonur Cosmodrome have assembled the stage cluster for the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket that will launch the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. Russian state space corporation Roscosmos announced the completion of the assembly in a statement published on its official Telegram channel.
Roscosmos noted that the term package describes a structural design where blocks from different stages are arranged in parallel and fire simultaneously during flight. This configuration provides maximum thrust during the initial powered phase of ascent.
Launch schedule and spacecraft testing
The completion of the package assembly is one of the final major steps in preparing the rocket for flight. According to Roscosmos, several weeks remain before the launch of the upcoming resupply mission.
The announcement follows a series of pre-launch checks conducted on the cargo vessel at the spaceport. Roscosmos previously confirmed that engineers at Baikonur verified the operational readiness of the spacecraft's solar panels. During the same month, the space agency reported that Progress MS-35 successfully passed leak tightness testing to ensure the pressure integrity of its internal compartments.
Resupply missions to orbit
Baikonur Cosmodrome is situated in southern Kazakhstan and serves as the primary launch center for Russian space missions. Russia leases the spaceport complex, which has operated since the 1950s for orbital launches, crewed expeditions, and cargo resupply runs.
The robotic Progress spacecraft family has served as Russia's workhorse logistics transport for orbiting space stations since 1978. Designed for automated docking, Progress vessels carry essential supplies to the International Space Station, including propellant, potable water, food, scientific payloads, and atmospheric gases for the crew.
The Soyuz-2 rocket family is a modernized derivative of Russia's historical R-7 launch vehicles, incorporating digital flight control systems and upgraded stage engines. Roscosmos oversees all operational aspects of the Russian space program, managing launch facilities, spacecraft manufacturing, and mission control operations.
