Russia cargo launched to ISS

An unmanned Russian cargo ship has been launched successfully to the International Space Station (ISS) to clear the way for the next manned space shuttle. The spacecraft Progress M-13M blasted off from the Russian-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on October30, 2011, AP reported. Progress M-13M's perfect launching can ease the concerns about the station's future after a previous failed launch happened in August, said Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin. “The ship successfully reached a designated orbit and will dock at the station on Wednesday. A new crew will be launched to the space outpost on November 14,” he added. NASA space operations chief Bill Gerstenmaier has congratulated Russia on the successful Progress launch. In August, the Soyuz rocket Progress 44 ?failed to launch and crashed in the Altai Mountains shortly after take-off due to an "accidental" manufacturing flaw. The August crash was the latest in a string of spectacular launch failures that have raised concerns about Russia's space industry.