The Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle successfully lifted the Progress MS-28 cargo ship into orbit, according to TASS reports.
The voyage to the International Space Station will span about two days, with docking to the Zvezda module planned for Saturday at 08:56 Moscow time.
From Baikonur Cosmodrome, the rocket carried out the launch of the Progress MS-28 spacecraft at 06:20 Moscow time. This mission marks the third Progress MS flight this year and the fifth total rocket launch from Baikonur.
The Progress MS-28 spacecraft is delivering 2,621 kilograms of cargo to the ISS. The cargo list includes 950 kilograms of refueling fuel, 420 liters of drinking water, 50 kilograms of compressed nitrogen in cylinders, and roughly 1,201 kilograms of various equipment and supplies. Among the items are food for the crew, apparel and gear for scientific experiments, and other essentials to sustain ongoing operations aboard the station.
Included on board is the SPIN-X1-MVN X ray spectrometer, intended for exterior installation on the Zvezda module during upcoming spacewalks. The instrument will enable periodic observations of the celestial sphere in the X ray spectrum. Also aboard are materials for new scientific investigations named Mandatory, which will study lung function during extended flights, and Endothelium, which will explore how Earths geomagnetic field influences cardiovascular health during spaceflight.
Fresh provisions such as oranges, grapefruits, onions, and sweetened coffee accompany the cargo, underscoring the human element of long duration missions and the need for standard sustenance accompanying scientific work in orbit.
The mission backdrop includes the plan that cosmonauts Oleg Prokopyev, Sergei Petelin, and Kyle Rubio will return to Earth aboard Soyuz MS-23 in September, continuing a cadence of crew rotations and supply deliveries that sustain continuous presence on the ISS.
This delivery aligns with ongoing efforts to expand ISS research capacity and improve operational reliability for future long term exploration missions. The Progress MS-28 flight demonstrates continued collaboration in orbital logistics, with cargo mass, scientific hardware, and life support supplies essential to sustaining crew and experiments in microgravity. The mission highlights the steady pace of Baikonur launches and the enduring role of the Soyuz family in orbital access and space research, as reported by national space agencies and corroborated by mission briefings and postlaunch summaries.