Cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) detected an unusual odour and observed small droplets after the Russian Progress 90 spacecraft docked last weekend. The spacecraft, launched from Kazakhstans Baikonur Cosmodrome on November 21, was on a supply mission carrying essential items for the stations crew, NASA reported.Upon opening the hatch to the Progress spacecraft, crew members noticed an unexpected odour and promptly sealed the hatch and the rest of the Russian segment to ensure safety, according to Fox Weather.“The unpiloted Progress 90 spacecraft arrived at the Poisk modules space-facing port at 9:31 a.m. EST on Saturday, November 23,” NASA stated. The launch occurred at 7:22 a.m. EST (5:22 p.m. Baikonur time) on November 21, aboard a Soyuz rocket.Investigation and air scrubbing measuresTwo days later, Roscosmos astronauts Ivan Vagner and Aleksandr Gorbunov reopened the hatch to begin unpacking supplies. Ground controllers activated air-scrubbing equipment to clear the odour, which NASA indicated was likely caused by outgassing from materials inside the cargo spacecraft. The crew confirmed that the odour dissipated swiftly, allowing cargo transfer operations to proceed on schedule.Supplies delivered and next stepsThe Progress 90 spacecraft delivered nearly three tons of food, fuel, and other essentials for the Expedition 72 crew. It will remain docked at the ISS for about six months, after which it will re-enter Earths atmosphere, carrying trash for disposal.In addition to air scrubbing, Vagner cleaned the ventilation system and documented the spacecrafts interior, ensuring a safe and secure environment for ongoing operations.
