Progress M-45 docks with International Space Station

Following a two-day free flight in near-earth orbit to the International
Space Station (ISS), proximity maneuvers, fly-about, stationkeeping
and approach, the Russian cargo transport vehicle Progress M-45 successfully
docked to the ISS.

A contact to the side port of the Russian Service Module Zvezda occurred
at 13:51 Moscow summer time, when the vehicle and the Space Station
were in the Russian ground site coverage. This docking port was cleared
on August 22, 2001 after unmating of the vehicle Progress M1-6.

The cargo vehicle delivered about 2.5 tons of cargo to the Space Station
including propellant for refueling of the combined propulsion system
of the Service Module Zvezda. The cargo consists of science hardware,
personal items for the Expedition Three crew (ISS-3), food products
and medical care items, crew flight-data files and parcels, oxygen,
onboard system outfitting hardware and equipment, cargoes for atmospheric
revitalization, water supply, thermal control systems.

The Expedition crew consisting of F. Culbertson (ISS-3 Commander), V.
Dezhurov (ISS-3 Pilot and Soyuz TM Commander) and M. Tyurin (RSC Energia
research cosmonaut, ISS-3 Flight engineer) will have to unload and accommodate
the delivered cargoes on-board the Station, as well as load the wasted
materials and equipment to the vehicle.

The approach to the Space Station, its fly-about, stationkeeping, berthing
and docking were performed in the automatic mode under control of the
Lead Operational Control Team (LOCT) of the Mission Control Center in
Moscow (MCC-M) and the ISS-3 crew.

During the Progress M-45 docking to the ISS the MCC-M was attended by
Yu.P. Semenov, Technical Manager of Russian Manned Space Programs, General
Designer of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, Academician of the Russian Academy
of Sciences, specialists from RSC Energia and allied space organizations.

The rendezvous and docking operation was observed by G.S. Poltavchenko,
authorized representative of the President of the Russian Federation
in the Central Federal District, Yu.N. Koptev, General Director of Rosaviakosmos,
A.F. Morosenko, Head of the town of Korolev, and their attendants, Rosaviakosmos
and NASA representatives.

The ISS of about 134.1 tons currently operates consisting of space vehicles
Progress M-45, Soyuz TM-32, Russian Service Module Zvezda, Functional
Cargo Module Zarya, U.S. modules Unity and Destiny. The Station onboard
systems operate in a design mode.

The ISS flight control is provided by MCC-M LOCT (Korolev, Moscow area)
in interaction with the U.S. Mission Control Center in Houston (MCC-H).

According to LOCT specialists data the ISS flies in orbit with the following
parameters: inclination 51.6?, maximum and minimum altitudes 416.9 and
390.8 km respectively, period of revolution of 92.4 min.