The Hindu : International : Russian cargo ship docks with ISS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 20, 2005

International

International

Russian cargo ship docks with ISS

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: An unpiloted Russian cargo ship linked up to the International Space Station on Sunday despite the failure of an autopilot docking system. Expedition 11 Commander Sergei Krikalev had to take over manual control of the docking after a power outage shut down a ground control centre near Moscow moments before the linkup, a Russian space official said. Commander Krikalev manually steered the seven-meter-long ship towards a flawless docking with ISS. The Russian cosmonaut carried out the docking "brilliantly and with minimum fuel consumption," said Mission Control Chief Vladimir Solovyov. The Progress cargo ship delivered more than two tons of food, fuel, and other supplies, including 40 new Solid-Fuel Oxygen Generating (SFOG) canisters as a supplemental source of Station oxygen, and replacement parts for the station's broken oxygen generator. Russia has been the sole launcher of spaceships to the station for more than two years, following the Columbia shuttle disaster that killed seven astronauts. Servicing ISS for the past two years has severely drained the Russian space programme budget, as NASA refused to share the costs citing Congress sanctions against the Russian Space Agency over alleged supplies of missile technology to Iran. The U.S. shuttle programme is due to resume next month.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

U.S. troops launch fresh Iraq offensive

Militants trawl Europe for recruits

Security details for G-8 summit leaked, says paper

U.S. Ambassador's statement is irresponsible, says Pakistan

"Co-ordinated response critical"

Hunt for stolen African billions

Russian cargo ship docks with ISS

Spain warns deserts are spreading

Deuba's detention is "unconstitutional"

`Restless spirit holds sway'

Musharraf sees light at the end of the tunnel

Canada absolves Indian-origin MP

EPRLF demands halt to killings in Sri Lanka