# Progress 42

> Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q14192878](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14192878)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_42)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/progress-42

## Summary  
Progress 42 was a Soviet uncrewed cargo spacecraft, part of the Progress 7K-TG series, launched to resupply space stations. It was launched on May 5, 1990, from Gagarin's Start using a Soyuz-U2 rocket. The spacecraft had the COSPAR ID 1990-041A and SCN number 20602.

## Key Facts  
- Launched on **May 5, 1990** from **Gagarin's Start**  
- Part of the **Progress 7K-TG** spacecraft class  
- Launched by a **Soyuz-U2** carrier rocket  
- COSPAR ID: **1990-041A**  
- SCN (Spacecraft Number): **20602**  
- Instance of: **Progress 7K-TG**  
- Significant event: **Rocket launch**, occurred on **1990-05-05** at **Gagarin's Start**  
- Wikipedia titles exist in **English** and **Swedish**  
- Wikidata description: **Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft**

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Progress 42 used for?  
A: Progress 42 was an uncrewed cargo spacecraft used by the Soviet Union to deliver supplies to space stations. It was part of the Progress 7K-TG series designed specifically for logistical support.

### Q: When was Progress 42 launched?  
A: Progress 42 was launched on **May 5, 1990**. The launch took place at Gagarin's Start spaceport using a Soyuz-U2 rocket.

### Q: What kind of rocket launched Progress 42?  
A: Progress 42 was launched using the **Soyuz-U2** carrier rocket, a variant commonly used for Progress missions during the late Soviet era.

## Why It Matters  
Progress 42 represents a key logistical component of the Soviet space program’s efforts to sustain long-term human presence in orbit. As part of the Progress 7K-TG series, it played a vital role in delivering essential cargo—such as food, water, fuel, and equipment—to space stations like Mir. These uncrewed missions enabled continuous habitation and scientific operations in space, laying groundwork for future international cooperation in space logistics. Its successful deployment reflects the maturity of Soviet automated docking and supply technologies, which remain foundational to modern space station resupply missions.

## Notable For  
- Being part of the **Progress 7K-TG** class, optimized for uncrewed cargo delivery  
- Launching on a **Soyuz-U2** rocket, a reliable workhorse of the Soviet space fleet  
- Supporting critical resupply missions during the operational lifetime of the **Mir space station**  
- Having a documented **COSPAR ID (1990-041A)** and **SCN (20602)** for tracking purposes  
- Representing one of many successful Progress missions that demonstrated the viability of automated space logistics  

## Body  

### Mission Overview  
Progress 42 was an uncrewed cargo spacecraft developed under the Soviet space program. It belonged to the **Progress 7K-TG** class, a lineage of spacecraft specifically engineered to transport supplies to orbiting space stations. The mission supported the broader goal of maintaining crewed operations aboard the **Mir space station**.

### Launch Details  
The spacecraft was launched on **May 5, 1990**, from **Gagarin's Start**, the primary launch site for Soviet and later Russian space missions. The launch vehicle used was the **Soyuz-U2**, a modified version of the standard Soyuz launcher with improved performance capabilities.

- **Launch Date**: 1990-05-05  
- **Launch Site**: Gagarin's Start  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U2  

### Identification and Classification  
Progress 42 was catalogued under multiple identifiers used for orbital objects and spacecraft tracking:

- **COSPAR ID**: 1990-041A  
- **SCN (Spacecraft Number)**: 20602  
- **Instance Of**: Progress 7K-TG  
- **Wikidata Description**: Soviet uncrewed Progress cargo spacecraft  

These identifiers facilitated tracking and historical documentation across global aerospace databases.

### Operational Role  
As a member of the Progress 7K-TG family, Progress 42 was responsible for transporting non-reusable cargo to space stations. Missions like this were crucial for sustaining long-duration stays in orbit, enabling scientific research and technological development in microgravity environments.

### Legacy and Documentation  
Progress 42 is documented in both English and Swedish-language Wikipedia entries, indicating some level of international recognition. It also has a dedicated entry in Wikidata and is indexed in knowledge systems such as Google Knowledge Graph and Wolfram Language.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report