Russian Progress cargo capsule. Image Credit/CNES
An automated Russian Progress cargo capsule aborted its docking with the International Space Station on Friday.
The six U. S. and Russian astronauts aboard the orbital outpost were never in danger as the unmanned capsule sailed past the station at a distance of nearly two miles and then out in front of the orbital base.
Another docking attempt was unlikely before Sunday, said NASA spokesman Rob Navias, who monitored the operation from NASA’s Mission Control.
The 4,900 pounds of supplies were not necessary for near-term activities aboard the station, he said. They include propellant, food, water, oxygen, research gear, spare parts and other equipment.
The Progress 38 capsule was launched Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Friday’s linkup was scheduled for Friday at 12:58 p.m., EDT.
About 30 minutes before, the Progress began its final approach, a series of maneuvers intended to line the spacecraft up with the station’s aft most berthing port. For reasons not immediately clear, the radio signal link between the docking port and the Progress dropped out, prompting an abort.
Further attempts to link the two spacecraft on Friday were called off when it became clear the station could not remain in the docking attitude without draining electrical power supplies. The docking attitude did not permit the station’s outstretched solar arrays to collect sufficient amounts of sunlight to generate electricity.