An unmanned Russian cargo ship successfully docked at the International Space Station early Saturday (August 17) to deliver tons of fresh equipment, food and other vital supplies.
The automated Progress 89 spacecraft connected to the International Space Station (ISS) at the Russian-built Zvezda service module at 1:53 a.m. EDT (05:53 GMT) as both spacecraft flew 258 miles (418 km) over the South Pacific.
“Contact confirmed, docking confirmed,” said NASA spokesman Rob Navias during live commentary on the arrival of the Progress spacecraft. “Progress has reached the International Space Station.”
The Russian space agency Roscosmos launched Progress 89 to the ISS on Wednesday aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft is carrying 2.8 tons of supplies for the space station’s seven-member Expedition 71 crew and two Boeing Starliner astronauts on board.
Supplies aboard Progress 89 include 2,648 pounds (1,201 kilograms) of food, equipment and other dry goods, 2,094 pounds (949 kg) of fuel, 926 pounds (420 kg) of water and 110 pounds (50 kg) of nitrogen.
The cargo ship will remain docked at the ISS for six months and will then be loaded with garbage and unwanted items that will be disposed of by burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere, NASA officials said.
