Soyuz 2.1b | Progress MS-35 launch: time & how to watch (9 Sep 2026)

What is launching?

Russia's Roscosmos is set to launch a Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft (designated 96P in the ISS visiting-vehicle sequence) to the International Space Station. The uncrewed resupply freighter delivers propellant, water, food, scientific hardware and other supplies to the orbiting laboratory and its long-duration crew.

Progress is the workhorse of Russia's station logistics program, tracing its lineage back to the Salyut and Mir eras. Each vehicle docks autonomously to a Russian segment port and, at the end of its mission, is loaded with waste before a destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean.

When is the launch?

The mission is targeted for 9 September 2026 at 16:10 UTC. The status is currently To Be Confirmed (TBC), so the exact time may shift as final preparations and range coordination conclude.

Progress launches to the ISS are timed precisely so the freighter's orbital plane aligns with the station's, making the liftoff window essentially instantaneous. You can check the countdown and any schedule updates on our rocket launch schedule.

Where is it launching from?

The rocket flies from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the world's oldest and largest operational spaceport. Baikonur has been the departure point for Soviet and Russian human spaceflight and cargo missions since the dawn of the space age, including the first satellite and the first human in orbit.

How to watch live

Roscosmos and NASA typically provide a live stream of Progress launches and dockings. Coverage usually begins shortly before liftoff and again ahead of the automated docking to the station.

To follow the mission visually, open the Cosmik live 3D map to watch the launch trajectory and the spacecraft's climb toward the ISS in real time. You can also keep the ISS tracker open to see exactly where the station is as Progress chases it down over the following hours or days.

What is the payload and mission?

Progress MS-35 is a dedicated cargo mission. Its main tasks include:

• Delivering pressurized cargo such as crew provisions, experiments and spare parts
• Carrying propellant to refuel the station's Russian-segment tanks
• Supplying water and pressurized gases
• Using its engines for periodic reboosts and debris-avoidance maneuvers of the ISS

After it completes its stay, the spacecraft is packed with trash and deorbited for a controlled re-entry, burning up over a remote ocean area.

What rocket is the Soyuz 2.1b?

The Soyuz 2.1b is a modernized variant of the venerable Soyuz family, featuring a digital flight control system and an upgraded RD-0124 upper-stage engine that improves performance over earlier versions. It is one of the most flown orbital launch vehicles in history and remains the backbone of Russian access to space for crewed, cargo and satellite missions.

How can I track the spacecraft after launch?

Once in orbit, Progress MS-35 conducts a series of maneuvers to rendezvous and dock with the ISS. You can follow the station and its visiting vehicles on our satellite tracking guide and see the latest updates on the launch news feed.

Where to learn more

Background on the hardware and site:

• Soyuz-2 (Wikipedia)
• Progress spacecraft (Wikipedia)
• Baikonur Cosmodrome (Wikipedia)
• The Space Devs Launch Library (data source)

Follow the launch live on Cosmik

Don't miss liftoff. Follow Progress MS-35 and the ISS on the Cosmik live 3D map, and turn on free launch alerts so you get a reminder before the countdown begins on 9 September 2026.