Unmanned spaceflights to the International Space Station (ISS) are made primarily to deliver cargo, however several Russian modules have also docked to the outpost following unmanned launches. Resupply missions typically use the Russian Progress spacecraft, European Automated Transfer Vehicles, Japanese Kounotori vehicles, and the American Dragon and Cygnus spacecraft. The primary docking system for Progress spacecraft is the automated Kurs system, with the manual TORU system as a backup. ATVs also use Kurs, however they are not equipped with TORU. Progress and ATV can remain docked for up to six months. The other spacecraft - the Japanese HTV, the SpaceX Dragon and the Orbital Sciences Cygnus - rendezvous with the station, before being grappled using Canadarm2, and berthed at the nadir port of the Harmony or Unity module for one to two months. As of December 2016, Progress spacecraft have flown most of the unmanned missions to the ISS.
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is the oldest and busiest spaceport. The first module of the ISS was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81 as the unmanned spacecraft Zarya in 1998 and flew unmanned for about two years before the first crew arrived. The Progress spacecraft is the most frequent cargo ship sent from Baikonur to the station, bringing supplies such as food, fuel, gas, experiments and parts. Its light payload is offset by its ability to deliver critical replacement parts at short notice. Fresh fruit and vegetables from earth are an important part of the crew's diet.