A Russian cargo spacecraft plunged into the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, ending a month-long journey back to the Earth after undocking with the International Space Station (ISS).
The Progress M-61 was involved in a scientific experiment for the Russian Defense Ministry after the separation in Dec. 22 and then dashed to the "cemetery of spaceships" some 3,000 km from New Zealand in southern Pacific Ocean.
It was the first spacecraft to be sunk in 2008, Interfax news agency reported, citing Russian space mission control source.
Another Russian cargo spacecraft, Progress M-62, is to undock from the ISS on Feb. 4 and the Progress M-63 cargo spacecraft is set to be launched on Feb. 5 and dock with the ISS two days later.
Since the first Progress, developed from the Soyuz manned spaceship, was launched to the Soviet Salyut-6 space station on Jan. 20, 1978, Progress spacecraft have been delivering supplies to space stations for 30 years.
Russia has launched 117 Progress spaceships of various modifications, including 28 to the International Space Station (ISS).
Source:Xinhua
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