# Progress M-38

> Russian cargo spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q4379834](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4379834)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-38)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/progress-m-38

## Summary  
Progress M-38 was a Russian cargo spacecraft designed to resupply orbiting space stations. Launched on March 14, 1998, it was part of the Progress-M series and delivered supplies to the Mir space station before burning up in Earth’s atmosphere on May 16, 1998.

## Key Facts  
- Instance of: Progress-M class cargo spacecraft  
- Launch date: March 14, 1998  
- Launch site: Gagarin's Start  
- Launch vehicle: Soyuz-U rocket  
- COSPAR ID: 1998-015A  
- SCN: 25256  
- Orbit decay date: May 16, 1998  
- Preceded by: Progress M-37  
- Succeeded by: Progress M-39  
- Country of origin: Russia  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Progress M-38?  
A: Progress M-38 was an unmanned cargo spacecraft used to deliver supplies such as food, water, fuel, and equipment to the Mir space station.  

### Q: When was Progress M-38 launched?  
A: Progress M-38 was launched on March 14, 1998, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-U rocket.  

### Q: What happened to Progress M-38 after its mission?  
A: After completing its resupply mission, Progress M-38 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and was destroyed on May 16, 1998.  

## Why It Matters  
Progress M-38 played a vital role in sustaining human presence aboard the Mir space station during the late 1990s. As part of the long-running Progress program, it exemplified the reliability of automated cargo delivery systems essential for extended missions in low Earth orbit. Its successful launch and docking demonstrated continued operational capability in international space logistics, supporting scientific research and crew survival in orbit. The spacecraft also contributed to refining techniques later applied to resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

## Notable For  
- Part of the reliable Progress-M series used extensively for space station resupply  
- Successfully launched and docked with the Mir space station in 1998  
- Demonstrated use of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle for routine cargo missions  
- Completed full mission profile including controlled deorbit and atmospheric burn-up  
- Maintained logistical support for long-duration human spaceflight  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
Progress M-38 was an uncrewed cargo spacecraft operated by Russia as part of the Progress-M program. Its primary function was to transport essential supplies—including propellant, oxygen, food, and spare parts—to the Mir space station.

### Technical Specifications  
- **Spacecraft Class**: Progress-M  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-U  
- **Launch Site**: Gagarin's Start, Baikonur Cosmodrome  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1998-015A  
- **SCN (Spacecraft Number)**: 25256  

### Timeline  
- **March 14, 1998**: Launched successfully into low Earth orbit  
- **Mission Duration**: Approximately two months  
- **May 16, 1998**: Deorbited and disintegrated upon atmospheric reentry  

### Operational Sequence  
- Docked automatically with the Mir space station shortly after launch  
- Delivered critical consumables and hardware required for station operations  
- Undocked following completion of cargo transfer  
- Conducted a controlled deorbit maneuver leading to planned destruction over uninhabited terrain  

### Legacy  
Progress M-38 represents one in a sequence of highly standardized and effective resupply missions that enabled continuous habitation of Mir. Its design lineage continues today through modern Progress variants servicing the ISS.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Progress M-38",
  "description": "Russian cargo spacecraft used to resupply the Mir space station.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_M-38"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Progress-M"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report