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MOSCOW, April 29. /TASS/. Russia’s defunct cargo spacecraft Progress M-27M, which entered into an uncontrolled spin after abortive launch on Tuesday, is to be deorbited on May 5-7 to burn in the Earth’s atmosphere, the Russian space agency Roscosmos has told TASS.
"The deorbiting of the Progress cargo spacecraft Progress M-27M and its burning in the atmosphere is expected on May 5 through May 7," Roscosmos said.
The spacecraft poses no significant threat to the International Space Station, as their orbits are considerably different.
"At the moment the spacecraft’s onboard systems are under control. Roscosmos specialists keep track of the spacecraft’s orbit and will timely report any changes in the situation," the Roscosmos press-service said.
Progress M-27M blasted off from the Baikonur space site on Tuesday morning. After its separation from the rocket reports arrived that two antennae of the approach and docking system Kursk had failed to unfold. Then it turned out that the spacecraft missed the expected orbit and entered an uncontrolled spin. Repeated attempts to establish communication with the spacecraft failed.
Roscosmos chief Igor Komarov told the media on Wednesday there were no chances for docking with the ISS and that the possibility of dumping Progress M-27M were being considered.