Photo Report: Progress M-67 Launched To the International Space Station

July 24, 2009. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

At 14:56:56 Moscow Time a transport cargo space vehicle Progress M-67 was launched from the Baikonur launch site.

The launch objective is to support further in-orbit operation of the International Space Station (ISS) in accordance with the commitments undertaken by the Russian side under the ISS Project.

The main mission of the space vehicle is to deliver to the Space Station different cargoes making up about 2.6 tons by weight and needed to continue the ISS flight in a manned mode and provide proper living and working conditions for the crew.

The space vehicle was put into a reference near-earth orbit with the following parameters: inclination of 51.64°, a minimum altitude of 192.6 km, a maximum altitude of 253.4 km, orbital period of 88.7 min.

The onboard systems of the space vehicle operate in design modes.

At the launch site, the space vehicle prelaunch processing and launch were performed under the direction of the State Commission (chaired by the Head of Roscosmos A.N.Perminov). The decisions taken in order to implement each prelaunch processing step and space vehicle launch itself were based upon the Conclusions of the Technical Management headed by the President of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, Designer General V.A.Lopota.

According to the telemetry data and reports from the crew of ISS Expedition 20, the space station systems operate in design modes. The station is ready to be docked with the space vehicle.

The space vehicle docking is scheduled for July 29, 2009, at 15:16 Moscow Time.

For reference:

1. S.P.Korolev RSC Energia is a Russian company of strategic importance, the prime organization in the Russian rocket and space industry that carries out manned space flights under the Programs, responsible for the development of the ISS Russian Segment, its integration into the Space Station and its operation, including development and operation of the main Russian Modules (Zvezda, Pirs, etc.), manufacturing, launch and operation of the Soyuz TMA and Progress M space vehicle.
2. Sent from the ground to the orbit were supplies of water, food, gases, propellants, consumables, scientific instrumentation and equipment.
3. Currently working in orbit under the ISS Program are the following 13 specialist: from Prime Crew 20 (ISS-20) – Russian cosmonauts G. Padalka (ISS Commander) and R. Romanenko: American astronaut M. Barratt, European astronaut F. De Winne, Canadian astronaut R. Thirsk and American Astronaut T. Copra who replaced Japanese astronaut K. Wakata by crew rotation. From July 17, 2009 the US Space Orbiter “Endeavour” having the crew of 7 people aimed to perform works on the USOS, had been docked to the ISS.
4. Cargo space vehicle Progress M-67 is the 34th Russian cargo space vehicle launched to the ISS under this Project.