MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Soyuz-U booster took the cargo spacecraft Progress M1-10 supply vehicle to the target orbit on Sunday, at 2:43 p.m. Moscow time, the press center for the Mission Control (located in Korolev, Moscow region) told Interfax.
"The cargo spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) at 3:17 p.m. on June 11. The Progress M1-10 will dock with the Pirs docking compartment. This will be the first time a supply vehicle is docked with this module. Progress spacecraft usually dock with Zvezda modules," the Mission Control said.
The spacecraft will deliver some 2,300 tonnes of cargo to the 7th ISS mission, which consists of Russia astronaut Yury Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Edward Lu. The cargo will include fuel, food, air, and equipment for scientific experiments.
In addition, the vehicle will also bring 330-340 kilos of water to the station, as the pervious supply vehicle brought only 70 kilos of water, the Mission Control said. Before the loss the shuttle Columbia, water was delivered to the ISS mainly by shuttles.
The supply vehicle may also bring a satellite phone and other communications equipment to the ISS.
As a result of the loss the Columbia shuttle and the following suspension of shuttle flights, Russia became responsible for all operations aimed at keeping the station in working condition. Shuttles helped adjust the ISS orbit, and now it is done only by Russian spacecraft.
Another supply vehicle, Progress M-48, will be sent to the ISS from the Baikonur cosmodrome in August. The Energia space corporation has already begun building the fourth cargo spacecraft.
For half a year, three Russian supply vehicles will be part of the ISS: two Progress supply vehicles and one Soyuz rescue vehicle, the Mission Control said. It has been decided not to undock the previous supply vehicle from the station, as it is easier to direct the station with the help of the engines of two supply vehicles. In addition, the two supply vehicles will also help with rational use of fuel during orbit adjustment maneuvers.