A Russian cargo craft has docked with the ageing Mir space station, marking the start of the countdown to its scheduled destruction in March.

Ground controllers intend to fire the thruster rockets of the cargo craft -- which has two tons of fuel on board -- to nudge Mir out of its orbit next month.

Last month the controllers feared they had lost control of the space station forever when a sudden power malfunction cut communications for twenty-four hours.

Following the docking procedure, a spokesman for the Energiya corporation, which operates Mir, Yuri Semyonov said it was a very important moment, adding that it can now control the space station. Russian space officials have tried to allay continuing fears that Mir might crash on land, saying plans are still on course for it to disintegrate over the Pacific.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service