Russia loses control of spacecraft causing it to plunge to Earth

RUSSIA has lost control of an unmanned spacecraft taking supplies to the International Space Station and it’s plunging back to Earth.

In this Feb. 5, 2014 photo provided by NASA, an ISS Progress resupply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, NASA and the Russian Space Agency declared a total loss on an unmanned Progress capsule, carrying 3 tons of goods to the station. The spacecraft began tumbling when it reached orbit Tuesday, following launch from Kazakhstan, and flight controllers were unable to bring it under control. (NASA via AP)

RUSSIA has lost control of an unmanned spacecraft taking supplies to the International Space Station and it’s plunging back to Earth.

Luckily, it is likely to burn up in the atmosphere.

The loss of the Progress supply ship, a Soviet design known for its reliability, is the latest embarrassment for Russia’s space program that has been recently hit by a series of mishaps.

Grim-faced officials from the Russian space agency told a hastily arranged news conference that the capsule had been lost.

“Most likely it is some sort of unforeseen situation related to the separation of the ship from the carrier,” Alexander Ivanov, deputy chief of the Roscosmos state agency, told reporters.

“It is impossible to say now who is guilty and of what.”

Roscosmos chief Igor Komarov said the vessel’s debris is likely to burn up in the atmosphere, estimating the cost of the launch and the spacecraft at nearly 2.6 billion roubles ($A63.34 million).

Roscosmos estimates that the vessel will burn up in the atmosphere some time between May 5-7.

A Soyuz rocket carrying the Progress M-27M spacecraft with supplies for the ISS successfully launched on Tuesday but communication with the vessel was lost soon afterwards.

A Russian official familiar with the situation told AFP the capsule had begun descending.

“It has nowhere else to go,” he said.

“It is clear that absolutely uncontrollable reactions have begun.”