Russian Supply Ship Hauls Trash, Treadmill From Space Station

Yesterday, an unmanned Russian cargo ship filled with trash and an astronaut treadmill cast off from the International Space Station to make way for a fresh delivery, set to launch to the orbiting lab this weekend.

The robotic Progress 50 spacecraft undocked from the space station at 4:43 p.m. EDT (2043 GMT) to end its months-long resupply mission. The spacecraft was expected to begin a fiery plunge back to Earth at 7:53 p.m. EDT (2353 GMT) and ultimately burn up in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, NASA officials said.

According to a NASA spokesman, among the trash and unneeded gear on the Progress 50 spacecraft was the Treadmill Vibration Isolation System — the space treadmill astronauts used to keep fit during the months of weightlessness living on the station. The treadmill had been used on the station since the first crew took up residence in November 2000. Read more...