# Progress M-23

> Russian cargo spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q10639667](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10639667)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-23)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/progress-m-23

## Summary
Progress M-23 is a Russian cargo spacecraft launched in 1994 to resupply orbiting space stations. It is part of the Progress-M class of vehicles, designed for unmanned logistics missions. The spacecraft was launched using a Soyuz-U2 rocket from Gagarin's Start launch site.

## Key Facts
- COSPAR ID: 1994-031A  
- Launch date: May 22, 1994  
- Launch site: Gagarin's Start  
- Launch vehicle: Soyuz-U2  
- Spacecraft class: Progress-M  
- SCN (Satellite Catalog Number): 23114  
- Instance of: Cargo spacecraft  
- Significant event: Rocket launch on May 22, 1994 at Gagarin's Start  
- Wikipedia languages: English, Swedish  

## FAQs
### Q: What is Progress M-23?
A: Progress M-23 is a Russian unmanned cargo spacecraft used to deliver supplies to space stations. It belongs to the Progress-M series and was launched in 1994.

### Q: When was Progress M-23 launched?
A: Progress M-23 was launched on May 22, 1994.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Progress M-23?
A: Progress M-23 was launched using a Soyuz-U2 carrier rocket.

## Why It Matters
Progress M-23 represents a key logistical component in supporting long-term human presence in space during the 1990s. As part of the Progress-M program, it played a vital role in delivering essential cargo such as food, water, fuel, and equipment to space stations like Mir. These resupply missions enabled continuous habitation and scientific research aboard orbital platforms. The success of vehicles like Progress M-23 laid the groundwork for future international cooperation in space logistics, including operations involving the International Space Station (ISS). Its mission underscores the importance of reliable cargo transportation in sustaining off-Earth activities.

## Notable For
- Part of the well-established Progress-M spacecraft lineage used for station resupply  
- Launched with the reliable Soyuz-U2 rocket  
- One of multiple Progress flights supporting the Mir space station in the mid-1990s  
- Assigned COSPAR ID 1994-031A, identifying it in global satellite tracking systems  
- Tracked under SCN 23114 by space surveillance networks  

## Body
### Mission Overview
Progress M-23 was an unmanned resupply spacecraft operated by Russia as part of the Progress-M program. Its primary purpose was to transport cargo to space stations in low Earth orbit.

### Launch Details
The spacecraft was launched on **May 22, 1994**, from **Gagarin's Start**, a launch facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It utilized the **Soyuz-U2** as its launch vehicle—a variant of the widely used Soyuz rocket family.

### Technical Classification
- **Instance of**: Progress-M class cargo spacecraft  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number)**: 23114  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1994-031A  

### Operational Role
As a member of the Progress-M fleet, Progress M-23 contributed to sustaining crewed missions aboard the **Mir space station** by delivering critical consumables and hardware without requiring crew return capability.

### Documentation and References
Information about Progress M-23 is sourced from authoritative databases such as Wikidata and academic references, ensuring accurate identification and historical context within spaceflight records.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report