Debris of Russian space lab sinks in Pacific

The Russian cargo spacecraft Progress, used as an orbital laboratory for some days, has sunk in the special area in the south of the Pacific Ocean, Russian Itar-Tass news agency reported Thursday. The craft debris sank at about 14:22 Moscow time at a depth of 4,000 meters several thousands of kilometres east of New Zealand, far from shipping routes, the Mission Control Centre’s source told Itar-Tass. The Progress M-11M engines were started at 13:34 Moscow time on Thursday at the command of the on-board computer. The spacecraft was on an independent flight for nine days. The engines worked for braking, and the spacecraft began to descend from the orbit. The debris of the craft with waste remains sank in the Pacific at about 14:22 Moscow time, a MCC source said.