MOSCOW, July 28 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s Progress cargo spacecraft has successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS). “Progress M-20M docked to the Pirs docking module at 06:26 MSK,” the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) told Itar-Tass.
In ISS operation history it is the fourth successful docking with the use of a 6-hour flight scheme. The first launch with the use of this scheme (in which the ship makes only 4 orbital revolutions) was tested last August with the Progress M-16M ship, which was sunk in the Pacific Ocean this February.
According to a representative of the Mission Control Centre (MCC), experts “for several years were engaged in the development of the new scheme, tested it on Earth, and discussed it with cosmonauts.”
The Progress M-20M spacecraft has delivered to the ISS more than 2.5 tonnes of various cargoes, including food, water, air and oxygen tanks, sanitary and hygiene facilities, fuel, equipment for the space station modules. In addition, the crew of the ISS comprising Russians Pavel Vinogradov, Alexander Misurkin and Fyodor Yurchikhin, NASA astronauts Christopher Cassidy, Karen Nyberg and astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA) Luca Parmitano have received parcels from their families and from psychologists. A present for Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, who turns 60 on August 31 years old and who will become the oldest flying astronaut in history, has also been delivered by the cargo spacecraft.
In addition to standard rations, nutritionists sent to the ISS on the Progress ship fresh fruits and vegetables. All the fruits are packed in special containers, which will keep them fresh for several months. In addition, the astronauts have received products on individual orders: meat dishes, seafood, fruit drinks.
In the parcels from psychologies and their families the astronauts will also find chocolates, dried fruits, nuts and other delicacies.