Science

Progress, Russian space cargo ship, to fall from orbit Friday

Russian space agency Roscosmos says the cargo ship that failed in its mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station will fall from orbit on Friday.

Some fragments from ship may hit Earth, but most will burn up in the atmosphere

An unpiloted Progress resupply vehicle approaches the International Space Station in February 2014. A similar space cargo ship failed to reach the correct orbit when it launched on April 28 and will fall to Earth today. (NASA)

Russian space agency Roscosmos says the cargo ship that failed in its mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station will fall from orbit on Friday.

The Progress was launched on April 28, but entered the wrong orbit and went into an uncontrollable spin. Russian flight controllers were unable to bring it under control.

Roscosmos said Wednesday that some fragments from the spacecraft may hit Earth on Friday. Most of it will burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, as is the case with all Progress carriers once they have delivered their shipments and are filled with trash.

Supplying the space station is mostly handled by the U.S. and Russia. The next launch of a supply ship, by the U.S. company SpaceX, is planned for June.