Posted: Fri, Sep 9, 2005, 12:20 AM ET (0420 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket launched a Progress cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station on Thursday. The Soyuz carrying the Progress M-54 spacecraft lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9:07 am EDT (1307 GMT), placing the spacecraft into orbit nine minutes later. The Progress (also called Progress 19 by NASA) is scheduled to dock with the station Saturday at 10:49 am EDT (1449 GMT). The spacecraft is performing a routine cargo delivery mission to the station, carrying food, water, propellant, and other supplies, including spare parts for portions of the station's life support systems. The previous cargo spacecraft to visit the ISS, Progress M-53, undocked from the station the day before the launch and burned up upon reentry.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  AP article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  NASA ISS status report