Another robotic cargo ship on your way to the International space station (ICC).

Russian cargo ship “Progress”

The rocket” launched at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan this morning (December 6) at 4:34 local time (09:34 GMT; 1434 local time in Baikonur) carrying 2.7 tons of food, fuel and other cargo to the orbital laboratory.

The launch took place less than 24 hours after the Dragon capsule from SpaceX started my own journey to IG

in the framework of the mission to resupply CRS-19. Dragon must arrive at space station on Sunday morning (December 8), and “Progress” (“Progress 74”) will follow suit on Monday (December 9).

Related: international space station: Facts, History

“It’s always fun,” Kenny Todd, Manager of International space station operations integration at NASA, said about cargo missions during a prelaunch press conference on Tuesday (3 December).

“This kind of dynamic events are something that all look forward to because it is really the opportunity to get some new goods some new tools on Board and get some new science,” he added. “So we are very excited about this specific timeframe”.

Dragon will return to Earth around January 6th, Todd said. “Progress”, meanwhile, will be on it for about seven months. (Dragon will survive their return to Earth, by the way, while the Progress will burn up in the atmosphere of our planet.)

There’s a good chance some holiday treats hidden in both cargo; NASA, Russia and their partners in the NAC like to treat crew members on the orbital laboratory when they have a chance. Indeed, Todd was asked if the Dragon carries anything particularly seasonal on this trip, and his refusal spoke volumes.

“As for gifts, and so forth, I’m not sure I want to divulge anything,” he said. “But I think I’d like to tell you that Santa? I think it’s certified for the vacuum of space. So, we’ll see what happens.”

Dragon and “Progress” two out of four robotic spacecraft, which is currently flying the resupply to the ISS. The other two are Japan’s H-II transfer vehicle

also known as Kounotori (Japanese for “white stork”), and Cygnus

that is managed by Virginia-based company Northrop Grumman. (Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX, has a NASA contract for the supply.)

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