Unmanned Russian cargo ship heads to space station

[February 10, 2009]  MOSCOW (AP) -- An unmanned Russian cargo ship is carrying supplies and a space suit to the international space station and its three-member crew.

The Progress M-66 spacecraft lifted off atop a Soyuz-U rocket from Russia's launch facility in Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin said the launch went well and the spacecraft entered orbit without a hitch. It is to dock with the station on Friday.

Lyndin said the Progress is carrying food, fuel, oxygen and other supplies as well as a second new Russian-made, computerized space suit for space walks.

American astronauts Michael Fincke and Sandra Magnus are aboard the station along with Russian Yuri Lonchakov. The crew size will be doubled to six members later this year.

[Associated Press]

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