Russia's Progress cargo spacecraft undocks from ISS

MOSCOW. February 6. KAZINFORM Russia's Progress M-01M cargo spacecraft undocked on Friday from the International Space Station and will become a temporary space lab before being "buried" in the Pacific Ocean, Mission Control said.

Tests of the new Russian digitally-controlled Progress spacecraft will continue at a safe distance from the ISS. "Its mission will be completed on February 8, when the spacecraft is to be deorbited and disposed of over a designated part of the southern Pacific Ocean," a spokesman for Russia's Mission Control said. The craft was launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on November 26 and docked with the world's only orbital station four days later. The Progress delivered 2.5 tons of cargo to the orbital station, including food and water supplies for the current crew, as well as fuel and scientific equipment. The spacecraft was also used on December 17 for a trial adjustment of the ISS's orbit. Preparations are currently under way in Baikonur for the launch of a Soyuz-U carrier rocket bearing a cargo spacecraft, Progress M-66. Takeoff is scheduled for February 10. The cargo ship is scheduled to dock with the ISS three days after liftoff to deliver fuel, food, water and equipment, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.