Baikonur – After an eight-day journey, a Russian research module arrived at the International Space Station ISS – but after docking there was a small incident. The engines of the module were fired “accidentally and unexpectedly” and had moved the ISS by 45 degrees out of its regular trajectory, the US space agency Nasa announced on Thursday via Twitter. However, the ISS was able to be returned to its regular trajectory through an emergency operation. The crew was never in danger and the ISS and all systems on board were functioning normally.
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Before that, the research module “Nauka” (science) was docked as planned at the outpost of mankind at a height of around 400 kilometers, as a live broadcast by the Russian space agency Roskosmos had shown. Several field missions by Russian cosmonauts are now planned for completion.
“Nauka” is to replace the disused module “Pirs” (landing stage) on the Russian part of the station, which was recently undocked and sunk in the Pacific. As a multi-purpose module, “Nauka” is primarily intended for research. The module, which was launched from Kazakhstan about a week ago on board a launcher, is also intended to serve as crew quarters with its own life support system. It measures 13 by 4.11 meters and weighs more than 20 tons.
“Nauka” was supposed to be sent into space as early as 2007
Actually, “Nauka” was supposed to be brought into space as early as 2007. However, problems had repeatedly led to delays. The last module was sent to the Outpost of Humanity by Russia eleven years ago.
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