Nov 26 2008
From The Space Library
ISS crew member Yuri V. Lonchakov manually docked the Russian Progress-M-01M (Progress-31) cargo vehicle after the vehicle’s automatic docking system experienced some last-minute problems, such as a loss of frequency information and an unusual toggling of the tracking displays. The vehicle had launched at 7:38 a.m. (EST) aboard a Soyuz-U rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Shortly after reaching orbit, it had failed to deploy an antenna for the Kurs automatic docking system. Eventually, engineers had been able to extend the antenna; however, they had feared that a manual docking might prove necessary. Progress-M-01M transported to the ISS approximately 5,342 pounds (2,423.09 kilograms) of cargo, including 1,808 pounds (820.10 kilograms) of propellant, 463 pounds (210.01 kilograms) of water, and 2,963 pounds (1,343.99 kilograms) of equipment, experiments, and other dry supplies. Russia had also used the Progress’s flight to test new computer and avionics technologies.
Spacewarn Bulletin, no. 661, 1 December 2008, http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacewarn/spx661.html (accessed 22 August 2011); Tariq Malik, “Russian Cargo Ship on Course for Space Station,” Space.com, 26 November 2008, http://www.space.com/6168-russian-cargo-ship-space-station.html (accessed 25 August 2011); Steve Gutterman, “Problems Force Manual Docking at Space Station,” Associated Press, 30 November 2008, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27983288/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/problems-force-manual-docking-space-station/ (accessed 25 August 2011).
Iran’s state-run media announced that the country had successfully launched a rocket called Kavoshgar 2 into space. A follow-up to the 4 February 2008 launch of the first Kavoshgar rocket, Kavoshgar 2 had reportedly performed its functions, landing 40 minutes later. Iranian media stated that the rocket had consisted of three parts, including a space laboratory. Kavoshgar 2’s mission had been to conduct space experiments on the atmosphere, to test its payload’s retrieval system, and to facilitate academic coordination among scientists.
Agence France-Presse, “Iran Says It Has Sent Another Rocket into Space,” 26 November 2008.
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