Cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) detected an unusual odor from the Progress 90 cargo spacecraft following its docking on November 23, 2024. The spacecraft was launched from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on November 21, carrying essential supplies for the ISS crew.
Upon opening the hatch, cosmonauts Ivan Vagner and Aleksandr Gorbunov noted the unexpected smell and observed small droplets. In response, they sealed the hatch and activated air scrubbing equipment as a precautionary measure, indicating the odor was likely due to outgassing from materials inside the spacecraft.
The Progress 90 spacecraft successfully docked at 9:31 a.m. EST on November 23, after launching at 7:22 a.m. EST on November 21. NASA reported that the odor dissipated quickly, allowing cargo transfer operations to continue as planned.
The Progress spacecraft delivered nearly three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the Expedition 72 crew and is expected to remain docked for approximately six months before returning to Earth to dispose of waste.
In addition to managing the odor issue, Vagner also cleaned the ventilation system and documented the interior of the Progress spacecraft.