A robot spacecraft carrying fuel, supplies and equipment for the International Space Station (ISS) is circling our planet today after a successful launch from a Russian launch facility in Kazakhstan.
The Progress M1-3 cargo ship blasted off at 2:26:42 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (1826.42 GMT) Sunday from Area 1 of Baikonur Cosmodrome. Nine minutes later the three-stage Soyuz rocket inserted the seven-ton cargo ship into its initial circular orbit, mission managers reported.
The Progress M-1-3 cargo ship is seen before its launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
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Mission Control in Korolev, near Moscow, confirmed the spacecraft separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle at 2:35:31 p.m. EDT (1835.31 GMT) and entered a 152- by 120-mile (244 by 193-kilometer) orbit.
The Progress M1-3 is expected to spend around two days in a solo flight before its rendezvous and docking with the ISS at 4:14 p.m. EDT (2014 GMT) Tuesday.The spacecraft is to conduct a series of three maneuvers with its engines to climb to the 218- by 229-mile (351- by 368-kilometer) orbit where the ISS circles Earth about every 90 minutes.
The first maneuver is expected later today, while additional jet firings are planned for Monday and Tuesday.
Once docked to the rear port of the Zvezda service module of the ISS, the Progress will serve as a tanker for the station. About 3,436 pounds (1559 kilograms) of propellant will be pumped into Zvezda's propellant tanks.
The newest addition to the ISS, Zvezda docked with the station on July 26. The module's propulsion system is used to maintain attitude of the entire outpost.
Ground controllers also will use the Progress' engines to boost the altitude of the station.
A visiting Space Shuttle crew during September will unload into the station some 1,355 pounds (615 kilograms) of material and supplies delivered by this first Progress.
The list of items packed aboard Progress include science experiments, motion control and navigation equipment, personal stuff including things to wear and keep clean, as well as a large amount of equipment for air conditioning, heat and power control systems.
Another Progress mission to the ISS is scheduled before the first resident crew lifts off to the outpost on October 30.
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