By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A Progress space freighter has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) four days behind schedule because of the evacuation of Nasa’s space centre in Houston in the wake of Hurricane Ike, Russia’s mission control said.
The Progress M-65, launched on board a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan on Sep 10, has delivered some 2.5 tonnes of fuel, oxygen, water, food and medical supplies, as well as the latest Russian-designed space suit for use during a space walk by Russian crewmembers on board the ISS.
The fully computerized new Orlan-MK suit is an updated version of the Orlan-M, which was used by previous crew members.
Nasa made an official request to delay docking of the Progress docking after around one million people, including staff at Nasa’s mission control in Texas, were forced to flee as the devastating Hurricane Ike approached the US state.
Nasa spokesman in Russia, Mark Bowman said the mission control centre in Houston, which has suffered slight damage, would not reopen until Monday at the earliest.
The space station’s US segment is currently being controlled by a backup centre in Huntsville, Alabama.