Russia’s failed cargo spacecraft to fall from orbit Friday

World Today

In this Feb. 5, 2014 photo provided by NASA, an ISS Progress resupply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, NASA and the Russian Space Agency declared a total loss on an unmanned Progress capsule, carrying 3 tons of goods to the station. The spacecraft began tumbling when it reached orbit Tuesday, following launch from Kazakhstan, and flight controllers were unable to bring it under control. (NASA via AP)

Russian space agency Roscosmos says the cargo ship that failed in its mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station will fall from orbit on Friday.

The Progress was launched on April 28, but entered the wrong orbit and went into an uncontrollable spin. Russian flight controllers were unable to bring it under control.

Roscosmos said Wednesday that some fragments from the spacecraft may hit Earth on Friday. Most of it will burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, as is the case with all Progress carriers once they have delivered their shipments and are filled with trash.

Russia’s Mission Control had for days failed to stabilize the ship. The Progress was scheduled to dock at the International Space Station six hours after it launched to deliver 2.5 tons of supplies, including food and fuel.

But flight controllers were unable to receive data from the spacecraft. Russia’s space agency and NASA both said the six crew members on board the orbiting space station have sufficient supplies and are in no danger.

Supplying the space station is mostly handled by the U.S. and Russia. The next launch of a supply ship, by the U.S. company SpaceX, is planned for June.

Story by the Associated Press