Posted: Fri, May 8, 2009, 7:11 AM ET (1111 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket successfully launched a Progress cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station late Thursday. The Soyuz-U rocket lifted off at 2:37 pm EDT (1837 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and placed the Progress M-02M (called Progress 33 by NASA) spacecraft into orbit. The spacecraft will take a longer-than-usual time approaching and docking with the space station so that ground controllers can flight test a new avionics system on the upgraded spacecraft. Docking with the Pirs module of the station is planned for May 12 at 3:23 pm EDT (1923 GMT). The spacecraft is carrying two and a half tons of food, water, propellant, and other supplies for the station and its crew.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  AP article