On April 23, the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle carrying the Progress MS-34 cargo spacecraft was rolled out to the launch pad and erected into a vertical position at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. For three consecutive days, pre-launch checks have proceeded, including inspections of ground infrastructure, launch vehicle systems, and the spacecraft itself ahead of the scheduled liftoff.
The launch is set for April 26 at 5:00 p.m. Astana time from Site 31, corresponding to 6:21 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 25. Progress MS-34 is expected to deliver more than 2,500 kilograms of cargo to low Earth orbit, including propellant for station reboost, food, water, air, and hygiene supplies for the Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station.
According to Roscosmos, 483 kilograms of the total cargo consists of food for the cosmonauts. The shipment too includes a new Orlan ISS spacesuit No. 8 designated for future spacewalks outside the orbital complex.
NASA will provide live coverage of the launch and docking sequence across its platforms, including NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube, beginning at 6:00 p.m. EDT on launch day. The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously dock to the aft port of the Zvezda service module at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 27, following a two-day orbital rendezvous.
Meanwhile, the seven crew members aboard the station concluded their workweek with a range of scientific activities. NASA flight engineers Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway conducted cardiovascular assessments in the Columbus module, including blood pressure measurements and ultrasound scans of neck, shoulder, and leg veins to support ongoing human health research.
Williams evaluated the performance of the new European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device, while Hathaway transferred medical supplies from the Cygnus spacecraft for stowage. Jessica Meir trained on the Health Maintenance System for emergency medical response and assisted with equipment transfers before replacing laptops in the Destiny laboratory.
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot began her shift by imaging colloidal crystal samples for a physics study aimed at enabling in-space production of advanced materials, then tended to seeds in a botany experiment designed to engage students in space-related STEM fields.
Station commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev alternated hearing tests in the Quest airlock’s quiet environment. Kud-Sverchkov later verified the function of the Zvezda module’s Elektron oxygen generator, while Mikaev completed a treadmill-based fitness assessment.
Roscosmos flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev maintained ventilation systems in the Zarya module and replaced smoke detectors in the Nauka science laboratory, continuing routine upkeep of the station’s environmental and safety systems.
The Progress 95 spacecraft — identified as such in NASA and mission documentation — will remain docked for approximately seven months before undocking for destructive re-entry, during which it will dispose of waste loaded by the crew. Its predecessor, Progress 93, departed the station on April 20 and burned up harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean.
For over 25 years, continuous human presence on the International Space Station has enabled scientific investigations unattainable on Earth, supporting research into long-duration spaceflight, low-Earth orbit commerce, and future exploration under the Artemis program, including lunar and Martian missions.
What time will the Progress MS-34 launch occur in local Baikonur time?
The launch is scheduled for 3:21 a.m. Baikonur time on Sunday, April 26, corresponding to 6:21 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 25.
How long will Progress MS-34 remain docked to the International Space Station?
The spacecraft is expected to stay docked for about seven months before undocking for destructive re-entry to dispose of crew-generated waste.
What specific item is included in the cargo for future spacewalks?
The shipment includes a new Orlan ISS spacesuit designated No. 8 for use in extravehicular activities outside the station.
Why is the Elektron oxygen generator on the Zvezda module being checked by the crew?
The Elektron system generates oxygen for the station’s atmosphere, and its operation is verified regularly as part of life support maintenance by crew members such as station commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.