Russian spacecraft ‘plunging to Earth out of control’
A RUSSIAN spacecraft is hurtling out of control and plunging back towards the Earth. Moscow says there is nothing it can do to stop it.
AN UNMANNED Russian cargo spacecraft ferrying supplies to the International Space Station is plunging back to Earth — and Moscow says it can’t stop it.
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, said.
“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 ($63.34 million).
Roscosmos estimates that the vessel will disintegrate some time between May 5-7.
#Progress 59 docking called off. Russian flight controllers assessing options. More details as available Latest: http://t.co/th9dmHiv2P
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) April 29, 2015Crew safe. Next attempt to link with the Progress cargo spacecraft at 8:50pm ET. Latest: http://t.co/Z0hx79AYms pic.twitter.com/mnmBfijCSc
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) April 28, 2015Russian flight controllers resume troubleshooting tonight w/Progress 59 during passes over ground stations Latest: http://t.co/sFfjFQvoy3
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) April 29, 2015A 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.”
Russian officials said earlier on Wednesday attempts to contact the spacecraft had been unsuccessful, raising fears it could be lost for good.
“There have been no improvements,” a mission control spokesman said.
The controllers had on Tuesday opted to change the flight plan and extend the vessel’s journey to two days instead of six hours in a bid to fix the glitch.
Good bye #Progress! Got up early today to see her leave... but I did go back to my sleeping bag afterwards :-) pic.twitter.com/Rz02QK8usl
— Sam Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) April 25, 2015The ship had been scheduled to dock with the ISS, where the international crew of six people is awaiting the cargo, on April 30.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who commanded the ISS on his final mission, said the Progress will slowly fall to Earth before disintegrating.
Tumbling to Earth - Mission Control Moscow has had no luck contacting the Progress. It'll now slowly fall & burn up. pic.twitter.com/lbkJZq36bM
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) April 29, 2015##
