Russian Cargo Ship Leaves Space Station, Another on the Way

The Russian ISS Progress 52 cargo craft that arrived at the International Space Station last July undocked Feb. 3 from the Pirs Docking Compartment to clear the port for the arrival of a new Progress resupply vehicle on Feb. 5. Loaded with trash, the unpiloted Progress undocked from Pirs at 11:21 a.m. EST and moved to a safe distance away from the station for several days of tests by Russian flight controllers on the effects of the extremes of heat and cold on the spacecraft. The Progress will be deorbited on Feb. 11 to burn up in Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.