The International Space Station is about to receive another important delivery from Earth.

Roscosmos is preparing to launch the uncrewed Progress 96 cargo spacecraft, which will carry roughly three tons of food, fuel, and other essential supplies for the astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NASA will provide live coverage of both the launch and the spacecraft’s arrival at the station.

Launching From Kazakhstan

Progress 96 is scheduled to launch on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The launch is planned for 12:15 p.m. EDT (4:15 p.m. UTC), with NASA’s live coverage beginning 15 minutes earlier at 12 p.m. EDT.

Once in orbit, the spacecraft will begin a two-day journey toward the International Space Station.

Unlike crewed spacecraft, Progress 96 will operate without astronauts on board. It is designed to automatically navigate toward the station and perform its docking sequence.

A Three-Ton Delivery for the Space Station

Cargo missions like Progress 96 are essential to keeping the ISS operating.

The spacecraft will deliver approximately three tons of supplies, including food, fuel, and other materials needed by the station’s crew. These regular resupply missions allow astronauts to continue their scientific experiments and daily operations without interruption.

After its journey through orbit, Progress 96 is scheduled to autonomously dock with the Poisk module’s space-facing port at approximately 2:37 p.m. EDT (6:37 p.m. UTC) on Friday, September 11.

NASA’s coverage of the docking will begin at 1:45 p.m. EDT.

What Happens to the Spacecraft After Delivery?

Progress 96 won’t remain at the International Space Station permanently.

NASA says the spacecraft is expected to stay attached to the station for around five months. After completing its mission, Progress 96 will depart the station and enter Earth’s atmosphere.

The spacecraft will burn up during its planned destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean.

Another Progress Spacecraft Is Leaving

Before Progress 96 arrives, another Russian cargo spacecraft will depart the station.

Progress 94 is scheduled to undock at approximately 11:18 a.m. EDT on Monday, September 7, before making its own planned destructive re-entry.

NASA says it will not provide live coverage of the Progress 94 undocking.

The timing allows the station’s cargo traffic to continue smoothly, with Progress 94 leaving before Progress 96 arrives later in the week.

How to Watch Progress 96

NASA will stream both major events live through NASA’s online platforms, including NASA+.

Progress 96 launch:
📅 September 9, 2026
⏰ 12:15 p.m. EDT (4:15 p.m. UTC)

Progress 96 docking:
📅 September 11, 2026
⏰ 2:37 p.m. EDT (6:37 p.m. UTC)

NASA+ currently lists the launch coverage beginning at 12 p.m. EDT and the docking coverage beginning at 1:45 p.m. EDT.

Keeping the ISS Supplied

The International Space Station has been continuously occupied for more than 25 years, making regular cargo deliveries a fundamental part of life in orbit.

Missions such as Progress 96 deliver the resources astronauts need while also supporting the station’s ongoing scientific research. The ISS provides a unique laboratory where researchers can investigate phenomena that cannot be studied in the same way on Earth.

The experience gained from maintaining a permanent human presence in low Earth orbit also contributes to NASA’s broader plans for future human exploration, including missions to the Moon through Artemis and eventually Mars.

For now, the next milestone is only days away: a Soyuz rocket carrying Progress 96 will rise from Kazakhstan, beginning another important supply run to humanity’s orbiting laboratory.

Source: NASA