Launch News Progress M-15M atop Soyuz-U on April 20, 2012

Aviation Week: ISS Management Team Approves Progress 47 Re-dock Plans

SPACE.com: Russia to Re-Try Space Station Docking Test Saturday


NASA News Release:
MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-138
Space Station Cargo Ship Docking Attempt To Air On NASA TV


July 27, 2012

WASHINGTON -- As part of NASA's ongoing live coverage of mission operations aboard the International Space Station, NASA Television will broadcast the attempted redocking of an unpiloted Russian cargo spacecraft to the space station for engineering data collection beginning at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday, July 28. Docking is scheduled for 9 p.m.

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RIA Novosti: Progress M-15M Space Freighter to Undock from Space Station:
The Russian Progress M-15M space freighter will be undocked from the International Space Station on Tuesday morning and sent on a three-week flight to conduct a series of experiments, mission control said on Monday.

The experiments, as part of the Radar-Progress project, will include the study of engine impacts on the ionosphere.

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will include the study of engine impacts on the ionosphere.

What does that mean ? That using hypergolic thrusters affect the ionosphere ?
 
What does that mean ? That using hypergolic thrusters affect the ionosphere ?

Basically yes, there is a long running Russian programme for studies of various effects emissions from spacecraft can produce in Earth's ionosphere. It doesn't mean that entire ionosphere is going to be affected, but, probably, some monitoring of charged particles from the engine emissions will be monitored on the global scale.

Almost any Progress after undocking spends few days in free flight for benefit of these experiments.

It's all being discussed in a small voice every time, so I think some aspects of developing ECM and stealth tech for ICBMs are concerned here.
 
The deorbit burn was performed today at 19:22 Moscow time. Remains of Progress M-15M splashed down in South Pacific at 20:12 Moscow time.
 
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