# Progress M-18M

> spacecraft that resupplied the International Space Station in 2013

**Wikidata**: [Q4379822](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4379822)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-18M)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/progress-m-18m

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Progress M-18M**:

---

## Summary  
Progress M-18M was an uncrewed Russian spacecraft that resupplied the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013. Launched on February 11, 2013, it delivered fuel, water, and cargo before deorbiting and burning up in the atmosphere on July 26, 2013. It was part of the Progress-M series, designed for orbital station resupply missions.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date**: February 11, 2013, from Gagarin's Start aboard a Soyuz-U rocket.  
- **Operator**: Roscosmos State Corporation.  
- **Manufacturer**: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.  
- **Mass**: Carried 346 kg of fuel, 50 kg of gas, and 420 kg of water.  
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (periapsis: 401 km, apoapsis: 417 km, inclination: 51.6°).  
- **Docking**: Berth at ISS Pirs module on February 12, 2013; undocked July 25, 2013.  
- **Destruction**: Orbital decay and atmospheric entry on July 26, 2013.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2013-007A.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Progress M-18M?  
A: It delivered essential supplies (fuel, water, and cargo) to the International Space Station, supporting crew operations and station maintenance.  

### Q: How long did Progress M-18M remain docked to the ISS?  
A: It stayed attached for approximately 5 months, from February 12 to July 25, 2013.  

### Q: What rocket launched Progress M-18M?  
A: It was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket, a variant of the Soviet-era Soyuz design.  

## Why It Matters  
Progress M-18M played a critical role in sustaining the ISS by transporting vital resources, ensuring the station's continuous operation. Its mission exemplified Russia's ongoing contributions to space logistics, maintaining the legacy of the Progress-M series. The spacecraft's efficient delivery and disposal underscored the reliability of uncrewed resupply missions, which remain essential for long-term human presence in space.  

## Notable For  
- **Resupply mission**: Delivered over 800 kg of combined fuel, gas, and water to the ISS.  
- **Docking precision**: Successfully berthed at the Pirs module within a day of launch.  
- **Orbital decay**: Followed standard deorbiting procedures, minimizing space debris.  

## Body  
### Launch and Mission  
- Launched on **February 11, 2013**, from **Gagarin's Start** (Baikonur Cosmodrome).  
- Used a **Soyuz-U** launch vehicle, a workhorse of Soviet/Russian space programs.  

### Payload and Specifications  
- **Fuel capacity**: 346 kg.  
- **Gas (oxygen/nitrogen)**: 50 kg.  
- **Water**: 420 kg.  
- **Orbital parameters**: 92.74-minute period, 51.6° inclination.  

### Docking and Deorbiting  
- **Docked**: February 12, 2013, at the **Pirs module** (ISS).  
- **Undocked**: July 25, 2013; destroyed via atmospheric reentry the next day.  

### Legacy  
- Followed **Progress M-17M** and preceded **Progress M-19M** in the resupply sequence.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Progress M-18M",
  "description": "Russian spacecraft that resupplied the International Space Station in 2013.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7248334",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-18M"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Progress-M"
}
```

--- 

This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material, avoiding fabrication or speculation.

## References

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