# Progress M-21M

> Russian cargo spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q15230040](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15230040)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-21M)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/progress-m-21m

## Summary
Progress M-21M was a Russian cargo spacecraft utilized to resupply space stations. Launched on November 25, 2013, it was an instance of the Progress-M spacecraft class and was propelled by a Soyuz-U rocket. The mission concluded on June 9, 2014, when the spacecraft underwent atmospheric entry and orbital decay.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Russian cargo spacecraft (Instance of Progress-M class).
- **Launch Date:** November 25, 2013.
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-U rocket.
- **COSPAR ID:** 2013-069A.
- **Mission End:** Atmospheric entry and orbit decay occurred on June 9, 2014.
- **Preceded By:** Progress M-20M.
- **Succeeded By:** Progress M-22M.
- **Alternate Names:** プログレス53 (Progress 53), 53P.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 39456.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Progress M-21M launched?
A: Progress M-21M launched on November 25, 2013, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.

### Q: What kind of spacecraft was Progress M-21M?
A: It was a Progress-M class spacecraft, a type of Russian uncrewed cargo vehicle designed to resupply space stations.

### Q: How did the Progress M-21M mission end?
A: The spacecraft decayed from orbit and underwent atmospheric entry on June 9, 2014.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Progress M-21M?
A: The spacecraft was launched using a Soyuz-U rocket.

## Why It Matters
Progress M-21M represents a specific operational link in the continuous chain of logistics required to maintain human spaceflight operations. As a Progress-M class vehicle, its primary role was to deliver essential cargo to space stations, ensuring that crews had the necessary supplies to survive and conduct research in orbit.

The mission highlights the reliability and routine nature of the Russian space program's resupply architecture during the early 2010s. Launching from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 atop a Soyuz-U rocket, Progress M-21M bridged the gap between the Progress M-20M and Progress M-22M missions. Its lifecycle—from launch in late 2013 to its controlled atmospheric entry in mid-2014—demonstrates the typical operational lifespan of a disposable cargo freighter, which serves its purpose and then safely disposes of waste and the vehicle structure upon re-entry.

## Notable For
- **Classification:** Being a distinct instance of the widely used Progress-M spacecraft class.
- **Launch Configuration:** Utilization of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, a standard rocket design for this era of Progress missions.
- **Mission Sequence:** Serving as the immediate successor to Progress M-20M and predecessor to Progress M-22M in the resupply lineup.
- **Orbital Identifiers:** Carrying the international designator COSPAR ID 2013-069A and Satellite Catalog Number 39456.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Progress M-21M was identified as a Russian cargo spacecraft with the primary function of resupplying space stations. It operated under the international designation COSPAR ID 2013-069A and the alternate identifiers 53P and プログレス53.

### Launch and Ascent
The spacecraft was launched on November 25, 2013. The launch event took place at Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31. The delivery system used to propel the spacecraft into orbit was the Soyuz-U, a rocket design variant noted for its universal application in Soviet and Russian spaceflight.

### Vehicle Specifications
Progress M-21M was an instance of the **Progress-M** class of spacecraft. This class is characterized by its uncrewed design and capability to transport cargo to orbital stations.

### Operational Timeline and Decay
According to structured data records, the spacecraft's operational life concluded on June 9, 2014. On this date, Progress M-21M experienced atmospheric entry, resulting in the decay of its orbit. This event marked the end of its service life, a standard procedure for disposable cargo spacecraft.

### Mission Context
In the sequence of Progress missions, M-21M followed **Progress M-20M** and was subsequently followed by **Progress M-22M**.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Progress M-21M",
  "description": "A Russian cargo spacecraft launched in 2013 to resupply space stations.",
  "alternateName": ["53P", "プログレス53"],
  "sameAs": [
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Progress_M-21M",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-21M"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Progress-M"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report