Monday, May 3, 2010

Progress Malfunction

Progress 37, the latest automated Russian cargo ship, was on final approach to ISS when a malfunction caused it to lose orientation to the station. The 24-foot-long module was filled with new supplies, including propellant, for ISS.

A Russian cosmonaut aboard ISS quickly took remote control of the Progress and performed a perfect docking procedure. It's another reminder that although robots and artificial intelligence can accomplish extraordinary things in space, having humans directly in the loop still prevents disasters and increases productivity. That will be the case for the foreseeable future.

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