Posted: Thu, Mar 21, 2002, 9:00 PM ET (0200 GMT)
A Progress cargo spacecraft was launched to the International Space Station Thursday afternoon. A Soyuz rocket carrying the Progress M1-8 spacecraft, called Progress 7 by NASA, lifted off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan at 3:13 pm EST (2013 GMT). The Progress is scheduled to dock with the ISS Sunday at 3:55 pm EST (2055 GMT). The spacecraft is carrying food, propellant, and other supplies for the three-person Expedition Four crew on the station. Thursday's launch was only the third Russian launch of 2002, and the first from Baikonur.

Related Links:

•  AFP article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  NASA ISS status report 02-16
•  Spaceflight Now station status center