[sarex] PROGRESS 15 LAUNCHES

[Arthur Z Rowe <n1orc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur - N1ORC - Amsat A/C #31468

* Progress 15 Launches; Station Cameras Capture Tropical Storms 
<http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/issreports/2004/iss04-45.html>*
A new Russian Progress cargo ship 
<http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/elements/progress/index.html> 
is headed to the International Space Station. The unpiloted ISS Progress 
15 spacecraft began its three-day chase of the Station this morning when 
it launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:03 CDT (0503 
GMT). At the time of launch, the ISS was orbiting 230 miles (370 
kilometers) above the Earth southwest of Baikonur.

Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike 
Fincke will welcome the Progress to the Station this weekend. The cargo 
ship is scheduled to dock with the aft end of the Zvezda Service Module 
<http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/elements/sm/index.html> at 
12:02 a.m. CDT (0502 GMT) Saturday. The Progress' cargo includes spare 
parts, clothing, water and experiment hardware. NASA TV's coverage of 
the docking will begin at 11 p.m. Friday (0400 GMT).

Also today, a camera mounted on the outside of the Station captured 
video of two tropical storms. At 6:13 a.m. CDT (1113 GMT), the camera 
caught Tropical Storm Charley as it churned westward in the Caribbean 
Sea with winds estimated about 55 mph (88 kilometers per hour). At 10 
a.m. (1500 GMT) today, the National Hurricane Center 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/> reported that Charley's sustained winds had 
jumped to 70 mph (113 kilometers per hour). The official forecast track 
shows Charley making landfall along the western Florida coast later this 
week.

One orbit later at 7:32 a.m. (12:32 GMT), Station cameras recorded 
footage of Tropical Storm Bonnie in the northern Gulf of Mexico with 
sustained winds near 50 mph (80 kph). As of 10 a.m., Bonnie's winds were 
still near 50 mph. The official National Hurricane Center forecast calls 
for Bonnie to make landfall in the Florida panhandle Thursday.

The footage of Bonnie and Charley will be replayed throughout the day on 
NASA TV <http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/index.html>'s Video 
File. Check the NASA TV schedule 
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Schedule.html>.

Visit the National Hurricane Center's Web site 
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/> for the latest information on Bonnie and Charley.
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