spacetoday.net: Progress undocks from ISS, deorbits

Posted: Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 11:03 AM ET (1603 GMT)
Progress spacecraft on approach to ISS (NASA)

A Russian Progress spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station Tuesday and burned up in the Earth's atmosphere several hours later. The Progress M1-7 spacecraft undocked from ISS at 12:43 pm EST (1743 GMT) Tuesday, filled with garbage from the station; it deorbited over the Pacific about eight hours later. After departing the Progress deployed a small satellite, Kolibri-2000. The 22-kg spacecraft, built by Russian and Australian students, will be used to study magnetic fields in orbit for several months. The undocking clears the way for the launch Thursday of a new Progress spacecraft, scheduled for 3:13 pm EST (2013 GMT) from Baikonur. The Progress will dock with the station on Sunday.