spacetoday.net: Progress launched to ISS

Posted: Wed, Aug 11, 2004, 2:11 PM ET (1811 GMT)
Soyuz launch (Energia file photo)

A Soyuz rocket launched a Progress cargo spacecraft Wednesday on a mission to the International Space Station. The Soyuz booster lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 1:03 am EDT (0503 GMT) Wednesday and placed into orbit the Progress M-50 spacecraft (called Progress 15P by NASA.) The spacecraft is carrying about 2.5 tons of food, water, propellant, and other supplies for the two-man crew on the ISS. The cargo on board the Progress includes replacement components for the station's life support systems and American spacesuits. The Progress is scheduled to dock with the station’s Zvezda module early Saturday; the transit to the station is 24 hours longer than usual as part of an experiment to conserve propellant.