(NASA) – The Russian ISS Progress 32 (P32) cargo craft docked to the International Space Station at 2:18 a.m. EST Friday. Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov opened the hatches to the P32 about three hours later. The first package he unloaded contained fresh fruit. Shortly after that, the crew members began unpacking the rest of the supplies.
Commander Mike Fincke congratulated the flight controllers in Moscow after a flawless docking over southwest China near the Mongolian border. The Expedition 18 crew will get some extra sleep Friday then shift its sleep schedule to normal after accommodating the new cargo craft’s arrival.
Image above: The ISS Progress 32 (P32) is viewed as it approaches the International Space Station. The upper right view of the station is from a camera onboard the P32. Credit: NASA TV
As Fincke and Lonchakov concentrated on docking and unpacking activities, Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus worked on routine station tasks. She worked on the advanced resistive exercise device, sampled the station’s water for analysis and held a private family conference.
At 11:56 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 10, two orbiting satellites collided as they passed over Siberia at an altitude of about 491 miles (790 km). The collision resulted in the formation of two large debris clouds. NASA’s orbital debris experts continue to assess the risk of the debris to the agency’s orbiting spacecraft, including the International Space Station. Thus far they have determined that the risk to the space station is elevated but still very small and within defined acceptable limits. The crew aboard the International Space Station was informed of this event. Listen as International Space Station Commander Mike Fincke thanks those on the ground for their efforts in monitoring this event.
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