Return from the ISS postponed because of the accident “Progress” – BBC Russian

• 13 May 2015

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Ships “Progress” for almost 40 years are used for delivery of cargo to the orbital station

Russia postponed the return to earth of three members of an international team of cosmonauts and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). As the head of the flight of the Russian segment of the ISS, Vladimir Solovyov, embark the ship “Union”, scheduled for Thursday, is inappropriate.

This is due to the accident at the cargo ship “Progress M-27M”.

According to Solovyov, astronauts in orbit, We asked to stay on board the ISS.

“They are, of course, with the understanding all accepted and agreed to work for about a month in orbit,” – said Solovyov.

He said the landing “Union” is planned for early June. And in July, three new crew members will travel to the ISS.

Now the station watch has international crew consisting of Russian Gennady Padalka, Mikhail Kornienko, Anton Shkaplerova, NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Terry miles, as well as an astronaut of the European Space Agency Italians Samantha Kristoforetti.

Cause of the accident

Head of Roskosmos Igor Komarov said that the accident “Progress” has occurred because of abnormal separation of the third stage of the launch vehicle “Soyuz 2.1a”.

Gennady Padalka (pictured left) and Mikhail Kornienko – members of the international crew of the ISS

“As a result of abnormal division of the ship was in orbit with a deviation of up to 20 kilometers,” – said Komarov.

The space truck “Progress” morning of May 8 burned in dense layers of the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.

On board the crashed “Progress” is 2.5 tons of cargoes, including 500 kg of propellant, 420 kg of water, oxygen tanks and equipment, and supplies – items Toilet, power supply systems, water recycling, air conditioning and other systems.

However, even after the loss of “progress” in the ISS is still enough reserves to last until the arrival of the next cargo ship.

The commission investigating the causes of the accident continues. The final report on the causes of the accident should be completed on May 22.

Fragments

Carrier rocket “Soyuz” with the cargo ship “Progress” was launched from Baikonur 28 April. Because of the accident docking with the ISS had to be canceled. Experts have tried to take the “Progress” under control, but contact with the ship could not – he began the descent of uncontrolled orbit.

Early in the morning on May 7, “Progress” has ceased to exist, having entered the atmosphere over the central Pacific Ocean. Before the earth could reach only small fragments of the truck.

The spacecraft “Progress” is used to supply the Soviet, Russian and international space station for almost 40 years. They have established themselves as a very reliable machine – in the history of operation since the end of the 1970s of the last century was lost only one ship.