Progress MS-21: Planned undocking from the ISS and return to Earth

The depressurized Progress MS-21 spacecraft is scheduled to detach from the International Space Station on February 18, with the retreat beginning at 05:26 Moscow time. This timeline comes from the Roscosmos press service, as cited by TASS, and it reflects a carefully coordinated sequence of events designed to protect the crew and ensure a safe return of cargo and equipment. The decision to phase the spacecraft out of the station’s orbit was made by Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, named after SP. Queen, following a thorough review of its condition and mission parameters. After an initial assessment, engineers conducted a detailed analysis of the released photographs of the vehicle, focusing on the exterior surfaces and the radiator system that serves the control module on the outer instrument-aggregate compartment. The investigation identified that the radiator had become unusable, a finding that helped mission control determine the safest point and method for disengagement from the station and subsequent deorbit maneuvers. Roscosmos subsequently announced that the ship’s departure from orbit would commence at 07:03 Moscow time, aligning with the broader operational plan for the end-of-life handling of the vehicle. The sequence is designed to minimize risk to crew and station, ensuring that all safety checks are completed before the object leaves the vicinity of the ISS and begins its controlled descent through Earth’s atmosphere. The public record confirms that the Progress-21 craft was put on track for this mission after its launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on October 26, 2022, marking a long and eventful service life that contributed to logistics and resupply for the station. These developments illustrate how ground teams monitor hardware health, coordinate orbital disposal actions, and maintain rigorous safety standards for human spaceflight operations. In the weeks leading up to the undocking, engineers reviewed telemetry, pressure readings, and structural integrity data to ensure no additional hazards or anomalies would affect the return trajectory or the integrity of the ISS. The evolving assessment highlights the importance of constant vigilance and adaptive planning in space operations, where even small changes in hardware performance can trigger a reevaluation of mission timelines and safety margins. The decision to depressurize and relocate the Progress MS-21 is framed within a broader strategy to balance the station’s ongoing scientific work with the necessary logistical tasks that keep crewed exploration sustainable and secure. The crew’s safety remains the top priority, and all actions are executed in close consultation with international partners and mission specialists who monitor orbit parameters, thermal conditions, and the health of critical life support systems. The evolving narrative around this mission underscores the intricate choreography required to manage cargo delivery, vehicle retirement, and the complex ballet of spacecraft interacting in the low Earth orbit environment. A key takeaway from the latest briefings is that the apparent damage to the vehicle did not compromise crew safety and was not expected to trigger an early return for the astronauts on the station. Instead, the contingency planning has led to a measured and orderly withdrawal, with considerations for the first ten days of March and potential extensions if circumstances on orbit warrant cautious optimism. In summary, Progress MS-21’s final phase demonstrates the layered decision-making process behind orbital logistics, where mechanical realities, safety imperatives, and mission objectives intersect in real time to guide a responsible and well-coordinated conclusion to a long-duration cargo flight. (Citation: Roskosmos press service)