Progress Cargo Space Ship to Raise the ISS Orbit

As flights of American shuttles have been cancelled because of the Shuttle Columbia disaster, the Russian Progress cargo spaceship will raise the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS), Viktor Blagov, deputy head of the Russian sector of the ISS, told journalists.

"Several days ago the cargo space ship docked to the ISS and it will perform the task, it has enough fuel," Blagov said.

He went on to say that the spaceship would deliver food, water and oxygen for the crew. "So, the 6th expedition will be able to work successfully during the next 3-4 months. We have time to decide on the further operation of the station, in particular, on the change of the crew and the life support of the station," he said.

Blagov said that the mission control center was now doing its routine work linked with the daily life of the station. The crew is now unloading the progress ship and carrying out night experiments on the station in accordance with the flight programme.