Space

DATE=2/4/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=RUSSIA / SHUTTLE (S-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-299212

BYLINE=LISA MCADAMS

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An unmanned Russian spacecraft successfully docked with the orbiting International Space Station on Tuesday, bringing fuel and supplies to the the two American astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut aboard the station. V-O-A's Lisa McAdams in Moscow reports.

TEXT: The routine docking of the Russian craft was watched with much anticipation, coming so soon after the loss of the U-S Space Shuttle Columbia.

It was a smooth trip for Russia's Progress Cargo Ship, which docked with the International Space Station high above Earth Tuesday.

/// COSMONAUT CONFIRMS DOCKING ESTABLISH & LOSE ///

Russia sends three supply shipments to the station each year, under its agreement with the other partners in the International Space Station project.

The Russian flights take on new significance with U-S shuttles now grounded while officials investigate the Columbia disaster.

Officials from the United States, Russia, and elsewhere have discussed possibly increasing the Russian flights. But the Russian spacecraft are much smaller than the shuttle, and the Russian space program does not have the money to do much more than it is already doing. (Signed)

NEB/LAM/AWP/RH