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International Space Station resupplied for the first time in months

International Space Station resupplied for the first time in months

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The International Space Station has just received its first new supplies since April 14th. The Progress 60 Russian cargo ship docked with ISS early this morning, at 3:11AM ET according to NASA, bringing with it over three tons of cargo. That includes "1,940 pounds of propellant, 106 pounds of oxygen, 926 pounds of water, and 3,133 pounds of spare parts, supplies and experiment hardware."

The spacecraft launched atop a Soyuz rocket during the early morning hours of July 2nd. There was a bit of tension around the normally-uneventful, unmanned resupply mission because the two prior attempts to supply ISS failed. Last week, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket exploded just minutes after takeoff, disintegrating the over 5,000 pounds of supplies onboard the Dragon cargo ship. Before that, back in April, the last Progress mission lost contact with ground control and spun out of control before reaching ISS.

Despite the two prior failed resupply missions, NASA said that the crew aboard ISS was never in danger — there were enough supplies on board to last until October, according to the agency. Nevertheless, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who has just reached day 100 of a planned year in space, sure seemed relieved to see the Progress cargo ship arrive.