July 26, 2000. Korolev, Moscow Region.

 Early this Moscow morning on the 14th day after the launch the Zvezda Service Module has successfully docked with Zarya-Unity Modules. Docking to SM was performed from its transfer compartment to the axial port. SM docking unit contact took place 04.45 Moscow daylight saving time when flying over Russian Federation territory in the radio visibility zone of Russian ground measurement stations.

The Service Module is a key element of ISS, developed by a broad cooperation of Russian and foreign enterprises with S.P. Korolev RSC Energia playing the leading part.

After docking the ~ 52.5 t heavy International Space Station (ISS) composed of three modules is flying on the near-earth orbit of a 51.6° inclination, a 380.0 km maximum altitude and a 351.6 km minimum altitude.

During the autonomous flight of the Service Module one performed operations on deployment of its external structural elements, on construction of initial attitude, carried out corrections of the onboard inertial navigation system and a two-burn reboost test, afterwards the necessary two- and single-burn maneuvers were implemented. During the flight one also performed onboard equipment tests (computer, communication, guidance, navigation &control (GNC), rendezvous, TV systems), checked the functioning of onboard systems by telemetry data, started storage battery cycling, checked solar array efficiency, carried out a docking mode test.

Within next weeks of docking one will perform operations on Zvezda-to-Zarya interface leak check, testing of systems, merging and testing of computer systems of ISS modules, a Kurs rendezvous equipment test on the Service module from its service compartment to support preparation of Progress M1 transport cargo vehicle docking with ISS - Progress M1 launch is planned for August 6, 2000. Besides, this year it is proposed to perform two launches of American Shuttle spacecraft with their docking to ISS, launches of the next Russian Progress M1 cargo vehicle and a Soyuz TM manned transport spacecraft with the first ISS host crew consisting of two Russian cosmonauts V. Gidzenko and S. Krikalev and American astronaut W. Shepherd who have a lot of space flight experience.

ISS flight control is performed by S.P. Korolev RSC Energia specialists together with specialists from M.V. Khrunichev GKNPTs and other enterprises and organizations within the scope of the Main Operational Control Group (GOGU) from the Mission Control Center-Moscow (MCC-M) residing in Korolev near Moscow. Flight Director is pilot-cosmonaut V.A. Soloviev. ISS flight control is performed in cooperation with specialists from the U.S. Mission Control Center-Houston.

In MCC-M during performance of the most critical operations of Zvezda Module rendezvous and docking with the Zarya-Unity stack were present: Russia's Manned Program Technical Director - RAS Academician Yu.P. Semenov, S.P. Korolev RSC Designer General, Yu.N Koptev, Rosaviacosmos Director General, A.I. Kiselev, Khrunichev GKNPTs Director General, RAS Academician N.A. Anfimov, TsNII of Machine-Building Director, Intergovernmental Commission members, representatives from Rosaviacosmos and NASA, space agencies of other ISS Partners, managers and specialists from S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, as well as from many Russian and foreign enterprises and organizations being involved in development of Zvezda Service Module systems.

After receiving telemetry information about docking completion, at MCC-M a briefing for Russian and foreign mass-media representatives was held.

During the briefing one addressed words of congratulations to S.P. Korolev RSC Energia and cooperating agencies for the Zvezda Module, expressed hope that Russia's Government would supply in a short time money foreseen for Russian enterprises to perform work on the ISS program. Without this money it is impossible to provide a timely manufacturing of Soyuz TM / Progress M1 spacecraft and next Russian modules for further implementation of the ISS deployment program in the year 2001.

The Service Module has been docked with the Zarya-Unity Orbital Complex.