Space Station Cargo Ship Launches With Gifts, Supplies

MOSCOW. Dec 23 (Interfax-AVN) ? The Russian-built Progress 27 cargo ship launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with cargo for the International Space Station (ISS) has reached the Earth orbit, the Mission Control Center told Interfax-AVN.

"The Progress spacecraft has broken away from the rocket launcher's third stage and reached the orbit. Now it has to fly to the ISS, which will take about three days," an official said after the early Sunday launch.

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched the automated supply ship toward the ISS at 2:12 a.m. EST (0712 GMT).

Progress 27, designated M-62, is the fourth Russian cargo spacecraft sent to the ISS this year. Among the things carried on board the Progress spacecraft are food, fuel, scientific instruments for experiments, sanitary and hygiene products and medicines for the crew, including fresh underwear, personal hygiene products and medical equipment.

The spacecraft will also deliver to the ISS Christmas and New Year gifts for the crew, and birthday presents for Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, who turned 46 on Saturday.

The U.S.-Russian crew on board the ISS consists of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Daniel Tani.

On Jan. 20, 2008, it will be exactly 20 years since the first flight of the Progress spacecraft. The Russian cargo spacecraft was designed and manufactured by the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.

Progress 27 is due to dock at the ISS early Wednesday at 3:25 a.m. EST (0825 GMT). The cargo ship will dock at the station's Russian-built Pirs docking compartment, which its predecessor - Progress 26 - freed up by departing the space station late Friday.

SPACE.com staff contributed to this report.

NASA will provide live coverage of the Progress 27 cargo ship?s ISS docking live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com?s ISS mission coverage and live NASA TV feed.

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