Cargo Spacecraft Succeeds in Docking with ISS on Second Try

Russia’s Progress M-06M spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) today. The first attempt, on Friday, failed because of a radio interference problem.

This time NASA says the docking was “executed flawlessly by Progress’ Kurs automated rendezvous system.” NASA calls the mission “ISS Progress 38” because it is the 38th Progress to visit ISS, but there have been many more Progress flights than that in the history of the program, which dates back to 1978 and Russia’s (then the Soviet Union) Salyut 6 space station. Progress 1 was the first spacecraft to execute automated in-space propellant transfer, refilling Salyut 6’s tanks.