MOSCOW (Sputnik) — After a successful launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the Progress vessel from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, the cargo craft encountered problems when separating from the rocket.
Mission Control was unable to receive Progress' telemetry, deciding to use a 48-hour docking regime.
“Russian flight controllers are continuing attempts to communicate with and troubleshoot issues with the Russian Progress 59 cargo spacecraft as it makes additional passes tonight over Russian ground stations,” NASA said on its website.
The cargo vessel carries more than three tons of food, fuel, oxygen and scientific equipment for the ISS crew.
According to an earlier statement by the US space agency, the station continues operating as normal and the crew has enough supplies left to last well beyond the next resupply flight.