Food on the International Space Station Might Get More Boring
Progress 47, a Russian spacecraft similar to one that malfunctioned, is shown before its April 25, 2015, departure from the International Space Station.
NASAAnyone worried about the nutritional health of the six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) can rest easy. Although a Russian capsule carrying food and water to the ISS malfunctioned on Tuesday, failing to deliver its cargo, NASA said the crew has adequate food to last into the summer.
Mission controllers in Russia lost contact with the Progress 59 capsule shortly after its launch. The capsule—carrying more than 6,000 pounds of food, water, oxygen, and fuel—was supposed to dock about six hours after launch but began to spin out of control shortly after it reached space. Russian flight controllers have been unable to rein in the craft, and video from the Progress showed it rotating wildly. According to the U.S. Air Force, 44 pieces of debris near the craft suggest a breakup of some type. The Progress is expected to enter the earth's atmosphere and burn up between May 5 and 7.