Russian Cargo Ship Docks With Mir
A Russian cargo ship ferrying crucial supplies achieved a problem-free docking with Mir on Wednesday, bolstering Russian Mission Control as it tries to put the space station’s past troubles behind it.
The unmanned Progress M-36, carrying a backup computer, docked on automatic pilot a few minutes ahead of schedule, flight control chief Vladimir Solovev said.
It was the first successful docking using a new procedure that had failed on two past attempts, causing the crew to switch to manual controls, he said.
The docking had originally been planned for Tuesday but was delayed until the crew of the space station unhooked a latch that had kept an old supply ship filled with garbage occupying the docking port.
The crew planned to wait until today to open the hatch, Solovev said.
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