- Image via Wikipedia
Look like Russia has had a lot of fun with this one. The Progress M-06M freighter is a Russian throwaway freighter spacecraft. The spacecraft is an unmanned resupply spacecraft during its flight but upon docking with a space station it allows astronauts inside, hence it is classified manned by the manufacturer. Other words it runs on auto pilot and control from outside sources. It was built from the Soyuz spacecraft, and is launched with the Soyuz rocket. It is currently used to supply the International Space Station, but was originally used to supply Soviet space stations for many years. This craft is the only way to resupply the ISS and since the American Shuttle is grounded it becomes even more of a asset to space. They say the reliability factor has been superber but this time around something messed up…
It seems the first attempt failed to dock the Progress M-06M freighter with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday due to a failure in its automated docking system, a NASA spokesman from America said.
I just heard on the news that the second attempt to dock the Progress M-06M freighter with the International Space Station (ISS) will be tried on July 4. The Russian Space Agency told Rossiya 24 channel.
“The first docking was aborted at the distance of two kilometers from the station. The docking was then delayed until Sunday,” they said. So that experts can make an analysis. The freighter and the ISS “are operational and stay in contact with each other.” they said.
This looks like they must have gotten everything back under control. At one point it was said that the Russian craft was spinning out of control, but Russia never acknowledged that there was ever a problem.
So far according to the news, Russia is positive that all is OK and that the second attempt will be the charm…
Windows to Russia!