Progress MS-29: 'Unexpected Odor' From Docked Russian Cargo Craft Delays Delivery To The Space Station Crew

The robotic Progress MS-29 cargo ship that docked with the international space station(ISS) emitted a "toxic" smell after hatch opening by Russian cosmonauts. The Progress spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, carrying nearly 3 tons of supplies for the Expedition 72 crew on the ISS.

"After opening the Progress spacecraft's hatch, the Roscosmos cosmonauts noticed an unexpected odor and observed small droplets, prompting the crew to close the Poisk hatch to the rest of the Russian segment," NASA said in a statement on Sunday. It was not immediately clear what caused the foul odor to emanate from the Progress vehicle.

The "toxic" smell reportedly prompted the Russian cosmonauts to immediately close the hatch leading to the Progress spacecraft.

The cosmonauts aboard the Russian segment of the space station reportedly donned protective equipment, and activated an extra air-scrubbing system aboard their side of the facility. On the US segment of the station, NASA astronaut Don Pettit said he smelled something akin to "spray paint."

The air scrubbers and contaminant sensors on board the space station monitored its atmosphere following the observation of the toxic smell. By Sunday, flight controllers in Mission Control in Houston determined air quality inside the space station was at normal levels.

As of Sunday afternoon, NASA said there were no concerns for the crew, and that astronauts were working to open the hatch between the Poisk module and the Progress spacecraft.