The unpiloted Progress MS-21 cargo ship has been released from the International Space Station and continues on a controlled path away from the complex. The deployment maneuver was confirmed by Roscosmos, with the craft separating from the Poisk module at 05:26 Moscow time. Ground observers and flight teams expect the orbiting outpost to document the incident by capturing high resolution images of the damage point as part of a planned assessment mission. This approach helps engineers evaluate the integrity of the station following the event and informs safety procedures for future operations.
As part of the post-separation plan, the crew aboard the ISS will assist in a photographic survey to record the exact location and nature of the damage. The mission profile outlines a sequence of observational passes designed to provide clear evidence of any structural breaches and to support subsequent engineering analysis. The goal is to create a precise visual record that can be cross-referenced with onboard telemetry and environmental data collected in the days leading up to the depressurization incident.
Within the spacecraft assembly, the remaining cargo and expendables aboard Progress MS-21 have been cataloged as items no longer needed for ongoing operations. The information released by mission control notes that the primary objective of the current removal is to reduce mass and lower the risk to vaults and seals on the urgent-to-be-disposed hardware. This step is being executed with careful timing to ensure the integrity of the station’s docking interfaces and to maintain a safe clearance margin for the surrounding modules during the departure sequence.
An engine burn is scheduled to initiate at 07:03 Moscow time to push Progress MS-21 away from the station’s orbital vicinity. After this burn, the craft will continue on a trajectory that will largely re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, with residual fragments expected to melt and burn in the upper layers of the atmosphere. The remaining debris is anticipated to disperse over the Pacific Ocean, aligning with established disposal procedures used in prior missions of this class and ensuring minimal risk to life and property on the ground and in maritime zones.
Earlier statements indicated that Roscosmos is conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the depressurization event that affected the Progress MS-21 cargo ship while it was docked at the ISS on February 11. The investigation aims to determine whether a failure in production or assembly processes contributed to the loss of pressurization in the thermal control system, with findings guiding future manufacturing controls and quality assurance protocols for international space station components. The ongoing inquiry underscores the importance of meticulous testing and cross‑validation across all participating national programs to maintain orbital safety and mission success. Reported hypotheses point to potential deviations in the production workflow within the Russian divisions involved in the module and system integrations, though the final conclusions will be based on a comprehensive review of telemetry, material samples, and test data, published after peer review and official statements from mission leadership.