Watch CBS News

Russian Progress cargo ship docks with space station

A Russian Progress cargo ship glided to a smooth docking with the International Space Station early Sunday, bringing more than 3 tons of supplies and equipment to the lab complex.

The unpiloted spacecraft's docking mechanism engaged its counterpart in the station's Earth-facing Pirs compartment at 3:11 a.m. EDT (GMT-4), two days after launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

"Guys, congratulations. your cargo vehicle has arrived," Russian flight director Vladimir Solovyev radioed from the Russian mission control center near Moscow.

"We congratulate you as well," cosmonaut Gennady Padalka replied from inside the station's Zvezda command module. "Thanks so much for sending it our way. ... It feels like Christmas in July."

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket explodes after launch 02:15

The successful launch, rendezvous and docking came after back-to-back resupply failures. A Progress launched April 28 spun out of control shortly after reaching orbit and one week ago, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket disintegrated during ascent, destroying a Dragon supply ship loaded with more than 4,000 pounds of supplies and equipment.

It is not yet known what caused the SpaceX failure, but Russian engineers said earlier they had identified and corrected the problem believed to be responsible for the Progress mishap and there were no problems of any significance with the M-28M/60P vehicle.

"The third time's the charm as they say!" astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted. "Great news."

Before the launching, NASA said the station crew had enough supplies on board to continue normal operations through October. With the successful docking of the Progress M-28M/60P spacecraft, and assuming a Japanese HTV freighter arrives on schedule in August, the lab crew should be sufficiently stocked through the end of the year.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.