A Russian Progress cargo capsule carried out a smooth July 4th docking with the International Space Station, overcoming difficulties two days earlier that prompted the re-supply spacecraft to sail past and out in front of the orbiting science laboratory.
Sunday’s automated linkup occurred on time at 12:17 p.m., EDT, as the two spacecraft sailed 220 miles over the Russian/Chinese border.
With the berthing, the supply capsule delivered 4,900 pounds of propellant, food, water, compressed breathing air, research gear and spare parts to the station’s six U. S. and Russian crew members.
Friday’s docking attempt was aborted as the Progress began its final approach. Over the past two days, Russia’s Mission Control determined the abort was mostly likely triggered by electronic interference initiated as station commander Alexander Skvortsov activated the station’s backup manual docking mechanism. The activation of the video link which would have permitted Skvortsov to guide the Progress to its berthing port interfered with signals from the automated system, according to a NASA statement.
The backup, normally activated for each Progress docking, was not turned on for Sunday’s berthing.
After Friday’s miss, the supply capsule steered toward a parking orbit nearly 200 miles from the space station, where Russian experts carried out their trouble shooting.
Late Saturday, the spacecraft was commanded to make its way back to the space station.
The supply craft was launched June 30 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.