KOROLYOV (near Moscow). Dec 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian space freighter Progress M-01M has docked with the International Space Station after a four-day space journey.
"The docking was performed manually by Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov from aboard the ISS. Space trucks usually dock with the ISS automatically," Mission Control told Interfax-AVN on Sunday.
The freighter has brought along 2.5 tonnes of various cargo.
After the joint sealing is checked and the pressure is evened up in the Progress and the ISS, the crew will open the transfer hatch and start unloading the cargo. The hatch is to be opened at 6:20 p.m., Moscow time, and unloading operations are to begin at 10:15 p.m., a Mission Control spokesman said.
The new freighter has the most advanced digital control and measuring gear. While the ship was on its way to the station, its systems were being checked on the ground. After the digital systems are tested in an unmanned flight, they will be installed aboard manned ships of the Soyuz series.
The digital space truck's debut flight went smoothly. After it reached the orbit a panel of the rendezvous system unfolded and assumed its working position with a slight delay, which is no impediment for the flight, a Mission Control expert earlier told Interfax-AVN.
The Progress M-01M lifted off with a Soyuz-U launch vehicle from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on Wednesday. It was the fourth space truck to have been sent to the ISS this year.