[sarex] New Progress Launches Toward Space Station - 16 JUNE 2005

["ARTHUR Z. ROWE" <N1ORC@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

New Progress Launches Toward Space Station

An unpiloted Russian cargo craft was launched Thursday from the Baikonur 
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It carried more than two tons of supplies and 
equipment for the International Space Station and its Expedition 11 
crew, Commander Sergei Krikalev and Flight Engineer John Phillips.

ISS Progress 18 launched on time at 7:10 p.m. EDT. It reached orbit in 
less than 10 minutes. Automatic commands deployed its solar arrays and 
navigational antennas. Engine firings are scheduled later Thursday to 
adjust the Progress’ orbit for an automated docking at 8:44 p.m. 
Saturday to the aft port of the Station’s Zvezda Service Module.

Among that cargo are 242 pounds of oxygen and 40 new Solid Fuel Oxygen 
Generator canisters, each of which provides enough oxygen for one 
crewmember for one day. With supplies already on board, this will give 
the Station about a five-month supply of oxygen. It also brings parts 
for the Station's Elektron oxygen generator, which has not functioned 
for several weeks. Crewmembers hope to restart it after installing some 
of those parts.

ISS Progress 17, which had been at the Station since March 2, was 
undocked from the Station at 4:16 p.m. Wednesday. The spacecraft, filled 
with unneeded equipment and trash from the Station, was commanded to 
deorbit and burned in the Earth's atmosphere less than four hours after 
undocking.
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