MOSCOW, February 1 (AVN) - The Progress-M1 space transport was launched from the Baykonur cosmodrome at 9.47 Moscow time (0647 GMT) on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Strategic Missile Forces Staff told the Military News Agency.
Progress-M1 was put into orbit by the Soyuz-U booster rocket, the spokesman said. The transport's design has been modified, so that it could carry 1,942 kg of useful cargo, which is more than previous ships could do, he stressed.
The ship has aboard fuel, water, air and other goods necessary for normal functioning of the Mir space station. It is equipped with an additional air pressurisation system which is needed to restore normal pressure in the station.
Progress also carries spare components for Mir's on-board systems, materials necessary for depreservation of the station and its control after it assumes piloted regime.
Mir and Progress are to dock in 48 hours.
The next crew comprising flight commander Sergei Zaletin and engineer Alexander Kaleri will leave for Mir circa March 31, the Agency learned in the Flight Control Centre.