Posted: Tue, Jan 24, 2012, 7:35 AM ET (1235 GMT)
A Progress cargo spacecraft undocked from the ISS on Monday, clearing the way for the launch of a new vehicle. The Progress M-13M spacecraft undocked from the station's Pirs module at 5:10 pm EST (2210 GMT) Monday and raised its orbit to an altitude of 500 kilometers early Tuesday. At that higher orbit the Progress will deploy a small satellite, Chibis-M, late Tuesday. The 34-kilogram satellite, attached to the side of the Progress, will be used to perform observations of gamma- and X-rays in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The Progress will then fire its thrusters again to deorbit. A new Progress spacecraft, Progress M-14M, is scheduled for launch early Thursday from Baikonur.

Related Links:

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