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Russia launches supply rocket for Mir
April 6, 1997
Web posted at: 2:08 p.m. EDT (1808 GMT)MOSCOW (CNN) -- The unmanned rocket carrying much-needed supplies and repair kits to the ailing Russian Mir space station launched successfully Sunday, according to the Russian news service Interfax.
The resupply ship Progress lifted off just after noon EDT from the Baikonor Cosmodrome bound for the Mir, where two Russian cosmonauts and American astronaut Jerry Linenger are waiting. Progress is due to dock with Mir on Tuesday.
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In addition to food and other supplies, Progress is carrying a repair kit for the Mir's main oxygen generator, which failed last month. The ship also has repair parts that will make a leaky cooling system more efficient and allow it to be restarted.
Leaks in the Mir's cooling system caused the space station to overheat this week and knocked out equipment used to scrub carbon dioxide from the air. A back-up system is being used until the leaks can be repaired and the scrubbing system is returned to service.
NASA plans to send a new oxygen generator to the Mir aboard the shuttle Atlantis, which is set to dock with the Mir on May 15.
Atlantis also is expected to deliver U.S. astronaut Michael Foale, who is to live on board the space station, replacing Lineger, who has spent the past 82 days on the Mir.
Related stories:
- Orbiting Russian, U.S. spacecrafts beset by glitches - April 5, 1997
- Space station crew waits for supply ship - April 5, 1997
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