Progress M-45 Cargo Vehicle Launched to the ISS

At 13:23:54 Moscow Time the Progress M-45 transport cargo vehicle was
launched to a near-earth orbit in accordance with the International
Space Station (ISS) flight program.

The vehicle carries more than 890 kg of propellant, including propellant
for refueling the combined propulsion system of the Russian Service
module Zvezda, which provides the ISS attitude control, as well as 210
kg of water and 1420 kg of dry cargoes, part of which forms Japanese
and French hardware and equipment to perform space experiments, kits
of flight data files, video and photo equipment. The Expedition Three
(ISS-3) crew working aboard the ISS will receive thermal control, medical
control, sanitary-hygienic and water support systems equipment, food
ratios including a set of fresh food stuff.

The vehicle has been injected into orbit with a maximum and minimum
altitude of 246.7 km and 193.9 km, respectively, revolution of 88.6
and inclination of 51.65?. The vehicle onboard systems operate normally
in a design mode.

The docking to the ISS is slated on August 23, 2001 at 13:59.

The Progress M-45 transport cargo vehicle will dock to the axial docking
port of the module Zvezda, that will be cleared by Progress M1-6 vehicle
on August 22, 2001.

The Progress M-45 cargo vehicle prelaunch processing and launch at Baikonur
cosmodrome were accomplished under the direction of Yu.P. Semenov, Technical
Manager of Russian Manned Programs, General Designer of S.P. Korolev
RSC Energia, Academician of RAS.

The vehicle and Station flight is controlled by the Lead Operational
Control Team (LOCT) located at the Mission Control Center (MCC-M), Moscow
area, Korolev. The flight director is pilot-cosmonaut Vladimir Soloviev.

According to the telemetry information and ISS-3 crew reports of F.
Culbertson (ISS-3 Commander), V. Dezhurov (ISS-3 Pilot and Soyuz TM
Commander) and M. Tyurin (ISS-3 Flight engineer), all ISS systems operate
normally, and the station is prepared to receive the vehicle.

The ISS of about 132.4 t currently operates in orbit consisting of Russian
Soyuz TM-32 transport vehicle, Service Module Zvezda, Functional Cargo
Block Zarya, U.S. modules Unity and Destiny. The Station onboard systems
operate in a design mode.