spacetoday.net: Progress launches, docks to ISS

Progress launches, docks to ISS

Posted: Tue, Feb 12, 2013, 6:55 AM ET (1155 GMT)
Progress M-18M docked to ISS (NASA)

A Progress cargo spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on Monday, six hours after launching from Baikonur. A Soyuz rocket carrying the Progress M-18M spacecraft (designated Progress 50 by NASA) lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9:41 am EST (1441 GMT) Monday, placing the spacecraft into orbit about nine minutes later. The Progress used an accelerated four-orbit approach to the station, compared to the traditional two-day approach, docking with the Pirs module at 3:35 pm EST (2035 GMT). The Progress is carrying 2.9 tons of propellant, water, and other supplies for the station.