The spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on May 6th to become a temporary space lab. During its automatic flight, the craft was used to conduct a series of geophysical experiments under the Plasma-Progress program. The Progress M-66 is one of the few remaining cargo spacecraft to be equipped with analog control systems. The next generation of Progress vehicles is digitally controlled. The second of the modified spacecraft, Progress M-02M, is currently in orbit and was launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on May 8th and docked with the world's sole orbital station on May 12th. The new space freighter delivered 2.5 tons of cargo to the orbital station, including food and water supplies for the current crew, as well as fuel and scientific equipment.
Satnews Daily
May 18th, 2009
Progress Attains Permanent Splashdown
The spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on May 6th to become a temporary space lab. During its automatic flight, the craft was used to conduct a series of geophysical experiments under the Plasma-Progress program. The Progress M-66 is one of the few remaining cargo spacecraft to be equipped with analog control systems. The next generation of Progress vehicles is digitally controlled. The second of the modified spacecraft, Progress M-02M, is currently in orbit and was launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on May 8th and docked with the world's sole orbital station on May 12th. The new space freighter delivered 2.5 tons of cargo to the orbital station, including food and water supplies for the current crew, as well as fuel and scientific equipment.