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Progress cargo module undocks from ISS, converted into space lab

RIA Novosti

02/09/2008 13:15 MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russian space freighter Progress M-64 has undocked from the International Space Station and been turned into an orbital laboratory, the federal space agency said on Tuesday.

"The Progress was undocked from the ISS at 23:47 Moscow time (19:47 GMT)," a Roscosmos spokesman said.

The craft will be used an orbital laboratory as part of the Plazma-Progress program to study engine characteristics. It is expected to work for at least two weeks before re-entering the atmosphere and being dropped into the Pacific Ocean.

The ISS's orbit was adjusted on August 13 to prepare for the docking of the Progress M-65 cargo module, due to be launched on September 10. The next launch of a Soyuz manned spacecraft to the ISS is scheduled for October 12.