Russian space module mishap knocks ISS out of position

Flight controllers have regained control of the International Space Station (ISS) after it was knocked off course by a newly arrived Russian research module. Thursday's mishap saw the jet thrusters of the multipurpose Nauka module inadvertently fire about three hours after it had latched on to the orbiting outpost, briefly throwing it out of control, officials with the United States space agency Nasa said. The module's jets inexplicably restarted, causing the entire ISS to pitch out of its normal flight position some 400km (250 miles) above the Earth. Flight teams on the ground managed to restore the ISS's orientation by activating thrusters on another module of the orbiting platform, Nasa officials said. The malfunction prompted Nasa to postpone until at least August 3 its planned launch of Boeing's new CST-100 Starliner capsule on a highly anticipated uncrewed test flight to the space station.