Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev and astronaut John Phillips, on board the International Space Station (ISS), received a welcome visitor to their home, but no one was onboard.
A robotic spacecraft, named Progress 18, docked with the ISS, with more than 1000 kilograms of oxygen, water, food and equipment. The cargo also included a new digital camera, which the crew will use to photograph the Space Shuttle Discovery when it visit in July.
Progress spacecraft are sent every few months to the ISS, which orbits 400 kilometres above the Earth. The supplies ensure that the crew have enough oxygen, water, food and supplies to survive in outer space.
Sergei and John arrived on the ISS on 16 April and will travel back to Earth on 7 October. When they return, Sergei will have completed his sixth mission and hold the record for the most time in space – 747 days.
