A Russian Progress cargo ship bound for the International Space Station spun out of control Tuesday.
Engineers were unable to direct the wayward ship and soon gave up any hope that it would be able to dock to deliver the 3 tons of equipment and supplies it was carrying for the space station crew. Now, it’s a waiting game, as the craft tumbles back toward Earth, and specialists on the ground can’t say for sure when it will return — or where it might be heading.
A NASA statement released Thursday said, “…the Progress currently is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere within the next two weeks. Russian ballistics specialists, working in conjunction with flight controllers in Mission Control Houston and ESA, are continuing to track the vehicle’s path and will provide updates on its anticipated reentry date.”
Upon reentry, the ship will burn up and come apart, and though there will be no salvaging the cargo on board, some material could survive the trip and reach the ground.
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