According to US and Russian space officials, an unmanned Russian cargo vessel failed to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday because of a flawed radio link. The officials also revealed that the spaceship is under control.

Going by the details forwarded, the apparent malfunction between the two vehicles occurred nearly about half an hour before the Progress ship was scheduled to automatically park itself at a berthing slip of the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS.

Interfax quoted the station’s commander, cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, as informing Russian mission that the Progress was “spinning uncontrollably” before it disappeared from view.

NASA said that once the problem was detected, the Progress was forced to make a “pass” of the ISS, from a safe distance of 3km. The space agency also revealed that the gap between the Progress and ISS is currently widening.

Noting that the Progress ship was in control, Russian space agency deputy head Vitaly Davydov told Russian television: “The Progress ship and the international space station are in working order and reliable communication with them is being maintained.”

Mission controllers are trying to figure out what exactly went amiss with the docking system on the ship that is hauling food, fuel and other supplies to the ISS. 

As per NASA, the incident did not spell any danger for the six astronauts aboard the ISS, which is presently well stocked.