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Russian Spacecraft Progress M-27M Is Out Of Control

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Russian Spacecraft Progress M-27M Is Out Of Control

Trending News: Out Of Control Russian Spacecraft On A Collision Course With Earth

Why Is This Important?

Because there’s no such thing as a “routine play” when it comes to space.

Long Story Short

Russia has lost control of a spacecraft intended to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. They have since given up trying to regain control and the craft is now falling to Earth.

Long Story

You’d think that by now the world’s brightest minds would have the whole “routine unmanned space travel” thing on lock, but apparently not. Russia’s Progress M-27M spacecraft was meant to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) and deliver supplies after a successful launch on Tuesday. That’s not happening, primarily because the module is now hurtling uncontrollably through space after something went wrong while piloting the craft.

The craft, also known as Progress 59, appears to have been a lost cause since it separated from its booster rocket’s third stage. NASA says that they initially postponed its rendezvous with the ISS until Thursday, but Russia has since stopped trying to regain control, content to let the spacecraft make its way back to Earth.

Presumably, operators are still attempting to contact and troubleshoot the craft, but at this point it’s definitely a goner. The ISS says that the rocket was carrying 2,357 kg of food, fuel and supplies, so in theory they’ll have to scramble to get the necessary supplies up to them in a timely manners.

As for the craft’s current whereabouts, the ISS says they’ve spotted some debris.

They say the debris point to an “energetic event” involving the rocket — either it bumped back into its booster rocket, or there was a rupture within its own propulsion system, most likely.

Stay tuned for updates. It’s estimated that Progress will take up to two weeks to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, at which point it should break up.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question: How did something seemingly so routine go wrong?

Disrupt Your Feed: Ha, and people think we’re making it to Mars in our lifetime.

Drop This Fact: It takes seven tons of supplies every six months to keep the three onboard astronauts alive and well.

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