# Progress M-15M

> International Space Station spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q4379824](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4379824)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-15M)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/progress-m-15m

## Summary
Progress M-15M was a Russian Progress-M class spacecraft utilized to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). Identified by the International Designator 2012-015A and occasionally referred to as Progress 47P, it launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 20, 2012. The vehicle re-entered Earth's atmosphere and decayed from orbit on August 20, 2012.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** It is an instance of the Progress-M class, a type of spacecraft designed to resupply space stations.
- **Launch Date:** April 20, 2012.
- **Launch Vehicle:** A Soyuz-U rocket was used to propel the spacecraft into orbit.
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.
- **Decay Date:** The spacecraft underwent atmospheric entry and orbital decay on August 20, 2012.
- **Mission Designators:** It held the COSPAR ID 2012-015A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 38222.
- **Mission Sequence:** It followed Progress M-14M and was followed by Progress M-16M.
- **Aliases:** The spacecraft was also known by the call sign "47P" and the Japanese alias "プログレス47".

## FAQs
### Q: What type of spacecraft was Progress M-15M?
A: Progress M-15M was an uncrewed cargo spacecraft of the Progress-M class, specifically designed to resupply space stations like the International Space Station (ISS).

### Q: When was Progress M-15M launched and when did its mission end?
A: The spacecraft was launched on April 20, 2012. Its mission concluded with atmospheric entry nearly four months later on August 20, 2012.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Progress M-15M?
A: Progress M-15M was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket, a universal variant of the Soyuz rocket family.

### Q: Where did Progress M-15M launch from?
A: It launched from Site 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

## Why It Matters
Progress M-15M represents a standard but critical logistical link in the continuous operation of the International Space Station (ISS). As part of the robust Progress-M class of spacecraft, its primary role was to deliver essential supplies—likely including propellant, oxygen, and dry cargo—to sustain the crew and maintain the station's orbit, although the specific cargo manifest is not detailed in the provided source.

The mission illustrates the routine yet vital cadence of space station resupply operations that occurred throughout the early 2010s. Launching just months after its predecessor, Progress M-14M, and before its successor, Progress M-16M, this spacecraft helped ensure uninterrupted support for the ISS. Its lifecycle, spanning from a precise launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to a controlled atmospheric entry four months later, exemplifies the disposable nature of these resupply freighters, which serve as temporary storage and waste disposal units before burning up in the atmosphere.

## Notable For
- **ISS Resupply:** Served as a dedicated supply vessel for the International Space Station.
- **Soyuz-U Integration:** Utilized the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, a standard workhorse for Russian space operations.
- **Specific Launch Infrastructure:** Launched specifically from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.
- **Mission Identifiers:** Uniquely identified by the COSPAR ID 2012-015A and SCN 38222.
- **Operational Timeline:** Maintained a distinct operational window between April and August 2012.

## Body
### Mission Profile
Progress M-15M functioned as an International Space Station spacecraft. Structurally, it is defined as an instance of the **Progress-M** class. The mission began with a rocket launch on **April 20, 2012**, originating from the **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**. Following its operational period in orbit, the mission concluded with atmospheric entry on **August 20, 2012**.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft was tracked under the international designation **2012-015A** and the Satellite Catalog Number **38222**. It is visually documented in the Commons category "Progress M-15M," with imagery available of the craft approaching the International Space Station.

### Launch and Propulsion
To reach orbit, Progress M-15M was mounted aboard a **Soyuz-U** rocket. The Soyuz-U is a variant of the Soyuz rocket family described as "Universal," and is a vehicle frequently used for this class of spacecraft.

### Mission Sequence
In the sequence of Progress missions to the ISS, Progress M-15M holds a specific chronological position:
*   **Preceded by:** Progress M-14M
*   **Succeeded by:** Progress M-16M

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Vehicle",
  "name": "Progress M-15M",
  "alternateName": ["47P", "プログレス47"],
  "description": "A Progress-M class spacecraft used to resupply the International Space Station, launched in 2012.",
  "vehicleConfiguration": "Progress-M",
  "launchDate": "2012-04-20",
  "dateCreated": "2012-04-20",
  "dissolutionDate": "2012-08-20",
  "identifier": {
    "@type": "PropertyValue",
    "name": "COSPAR ID",
    "value": "2012-015A"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q392384",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-15M"
  ]
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013