Progress M-11M space freighter launched into orbit

A Russian cargo spacecraft undocked from a Soyuz-U carrier rocket and was launched into orbit on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Russian Mission Control said.

It was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) at 18:38 Moscow time (14:38 GMT).

The Progress M-11M was lifted off atop the Soyuz-U from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.

It is to deliver 2.5 tons of expendables, fuel, water and foodstuffs, including green apples, lemons, oranges, onions and garlic to the ISS.

Defense Ministry spokesman on Space Forces Lt. Col. Alexei Zolotukhin said that a stable connection with Progress was set and is being maintained, on-board systems are functioning normally.

The freighter is scheduled to dock with the ISS on June 23 at 20:39 Moscow time (16:39 GMT).

Progress-family freighters have been the backbone of the Russian space cargo fleet for decades. In addition to their main mission as cargo spacecraft, they are used to adjust the ISS’s orbit and conduct scientific experiments.

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