NASA Space Station Status Report: Progress 15P Launches

A new Russian Progress cargo ship is headed to the International Space
Station. The unpiloted ISS Progress 15 spacecraft began its three-day chase
of the Station this morning when it launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan at 12:03 CDT (0503 GMT). At the time of launch, the ISS was
orbiting 230 miles (370 kilometers) above the Earth southwest of Baikonur.

Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike
Fincke will welcome the Progress to the Station this weekend. The cargo ship
is scheduled to dock with the aft end of the Zvezda Service Module at 12:02
a.m. CDT (0502 GMT) Saturday. The Progress’ cargo includes spare parts,
clothing, water and experiment hardware. NASA TV’s coverage of the docking
will begin at 11 p.m. Friday (0400 GMT).

Also today, a camera mounted on the outside of the Station captured video of
two tropical storms. At 6:13 a.m. CDT (1113 GMT), the camera caught Tropical
Storm Charley as it churned westward in the Caribbean Sea with winds
estimated about 55 mph (88 kilometers per hour). At 10 a.m. (1500 GMT)
today, the National Hurricane Center reported that Charley’s sustained winds
had jumped to 70 mph (113 kilometers per hour). The official forecast track
shows Charley making landfall along the western Florida coast later this
week.

One orbit later at 7:32 a.m. (12:32 GMT), Station cameras recorded footage
of Tropical Storm Bonnie in the northern Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds
near 50 mph (80 kph). As of 10 a.m., Bonnie’s winds were still near 50 mph.
The official National Hurricane Center forecast calls for Bonnie to make
landfall in the Florida panhandle Thursday.

The footage of Bonnie and Charley will be replayed throughout the day on
NASA TV’s Video File. Check the NASA TV schedule.

Visit the National Hurricane Center’s Web site for the latest information on
Bonnie and Charley. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/