[sarex] ISS STATUS REPORT #07-26

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*International Space Station Status Report #07-26*
*12:30 p.m. CDT, Tuesday, May 15, 2007*
*Expedition 15 Crew*

A spacecraft automatically docked to the International Space Station 
early Tuesday, delivering 2.5 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the 
residents on board.

The ISS Progress 25 linked up to the aft port of the Zvezda Service 
Module at 12:10 a.m. CDT Tuesday as the station sailed 208 miles above 
the Earth off the northeast coast of Australia. Within minutes, hooks 
and latches engaged between the two spacecraft to form a tight seal. The 
hatch to the supply ship will be opened overnight to enable its cargo to 
be unloaded.

As the Progress approached for its docking, Expedition 15 Commander 
Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov stood by in Zvezda in 
case they needed to take over manual control of the linkup. The docking, 
under the guidance of the Kurs automatic rendezvous system, was smooth 
and uneventful. Flight Engineer Suni Williams monitored other station 
systems and photographed the Progress’ approach.

The Kurs proximity antenna was retracted earlier than usual, at a 
distance of about 148 meters. This enabled Russian flight controllers to 
confirm it was functioning properly, since it failed to retract during 
the Progress 23 docking last October. In February, the Expedition 14 
crew conducted a spacewalk to fix the problem.

The unpiloted ship launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 
at 10:25 p.m. CDT Friday for its three-day journey to the station. The 
Progress delivered more than 1,050 pounds of propellant, almost 100 
pounds of air, more than 925 pounds of water and 3,042 pounds of dry cargo.

For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, 
visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/station

The next station status report will be issued Friday, May 18, or earlier 
if events warrant.

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