The spacecraft was manufactured by RKK Energia, and is operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency.

The Progress spacecraft subsequently raised its orbit, and manoeuvred to rendezvous with the space station.

It arrived at the ISS on 30 January 2011, successfully docking to the nadir port of the Pirs at 02:39 UTC.

[2] For the crew, food, medical and hygiene equipment will also be delivered, as well as documentation and personal items including books by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and a birthday present for station commander Scott Kelly.

[9] After departing the space station, the spacecraft was used for Radar-Progress scientific experiment to investigate a reflection feature of the plasma generated by operations of the Progress propulsion.