Russian Supply Ship Crash Could Delay New Space Station Crew

Published January 08, 2015

a Soyuz rocket booster carrying Progress supply ship is launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Rossiya 24 TV Channel)

The failed launch of a Russian supply ship may have ripple effects at the International Space Station.

A spacecraft carrying nearly 3 tons of supplies failed to reach orbit Wednesday and crashed into Siberia.

NASA's space station program manager, Mike Suffredini, says next month's planned launch of a new crew may be delayed. That's because the upper stage of the Soyuz rocket that failed is similar to the ones used to launch astronauts.

Suffredini says three of the six space station astronauts who are due to return to Earth in two weeks, might end up staying longer. NASA wants to keep the outpost fully staffed with six to keep research going.

As for supplies, the space station has plenty to last until spring.

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