Progress M1-8 Logistics Vehicle Launched to ISS

March 21, 2002. Baikonur launch site

In accordance with the International Space Station (ISS)
mission plan, a logistics vehicle Progress M1-8 has been
put into a low Earth orbit.

The vehicle was launched at 23:13:39 Moscow Time.

The objective of the launch is logistic support for the
space station, including deliveries of various cargoes,
which, among other things, support both pure science and
applied science research programs of Russia and other countries.

The vehicle carries the total of 2,4 tons of cargoes, including
propellant for the Russian segment of the Space Station;
food rations and fresh food for ISS crew; potable water
supplies; equipment for atmospheric control and supply system;
thermal control system; sanitary-hygienic and medical support
system; water supply system; power supply system; personal
protection aids; a suite of crew support equipment; payloads
to support work under programs of Italian and European Space
Agencies and of South-African cosmonaut during the mission
of the third Russian visiting crew to ISS, and many other
things.

The vehicle was put into an orbit with the maximum altitude
of 252.8 km, the minimal altitude of 193.6 km, orbital period
of 88.66 minutes and inclination of 51.64°.

The on-board systems of the vehicle operate normally. Its
docking with ISS is scheduled for March 24, 2002, at 23:55.

The vehicle launch-site processing and launch were performed
under the direction of the Technical Manager for Russian
Manned Programs, S.P.Korolev RSC Energia Designer General,
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yu.P.Semenov.

The mission of the vehicle and ISS is controlled by the
Lead Operations Control Team located at the Mission Control
Center (MCC-M) in Korolev, Moscow Region. The Flight Director
is cosmonaut V.A.Soloviev.

The ISS vehicle that currently operates in orbit consists
of the Functional and Cargo Module (FGB) Zarya, Service
Module Zvezda, Docking Module Pirs, manned transportation
vehicle Soyuz TM-33, as well as modules Unity, Destiny,
and airlock Quest. The total mass of the vehicle is 130.5
tons.

Based on telemetry data and reports from the crew of the
fourth expedition to ISS consisting Yuri Onufrienko (commander,
Russia), Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch (flight engineers,
US), all the on-board systems of the space station operate
within design limits. The Space Station is ready for docking
with Progress M1-8.