MOSCOW, December 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Progress M-61 cargo spacecraft has been detached from the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, mission control said.

"The cargo spacecraft smoothly undocked from the station and was sent on an independent voyage until about mid-January 2008. It will be used as a platform for technical experiments," a mission control official said.

The cargo ship, which is at the end of its service life, like its predecessor, Progress M-60, would be used for experimental purposes before being allowed to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

Progress ships are used to deliver food and water for the ISS crew, fuel to maintain the space platform's orbit, as well as other cargo and research equipment.