spacetoday.net: Progress spacecraft launched to ISS

Posted: Sun, Feb 2, 2003, 12:17 PM ET (1717 GMT)
Soyuz launch (Energia file photo)

A Soyuz booster successfully launched a Progress spacecraft on Sunday carrying a now-critical load of supplies for the International Space Station. The Soyuz launch vehicle lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 7:59 am EST (1259 GMT) and placed the Progress M-47 (designated Progress 10 by NASA) into low Earth orbit. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station on Tuesday morning. The launch, scheduled months in advance of Saturday's shuttle disaster, is carrying food and other supplies for the station's three-man crew. NASA officials said Saturday afternoon that they performed a last-minute check of the contents of the Progress and were assured they were appropriate for the crew should they have to stay on the station for an extended period as the shuttle is grounded indefinitely. With the supplies in the Progress the Expedition Six crew can remain on the station without shuttle resupply until late June.