May 7, 2009 - Baikonur Cosmodrome. Arrr! Flyin' atop a Russian Soyuz U booster, t' Progress M-02M spacecraft rocketed away from t' Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1837 GMT (2:37 pm EDT). Aye aye! A preliminary orbit was achieved after a nine-minute ascent provided by t' three-stage rocket. Onboard commands then extended t' Progress craft's two power-generatin' solar arrays that span 35 feet and unfurled communications and navigation antennas. But instead o' aimin' for a dockin' with t' station two days after launch, this freighter will spend a few extra days in free-flight t' test new avionics, accordin' t' NASA. A series o' precise engine firings spread over today, Friday and Monday will guide t' Progress toward its automated linkup. Ahoy! T' dockin' is planned t' occur next Tuesday at 1923 GMT (3:23 pm EDT). T' 24-foot long ship will attach itself t' t' Earth-facin' port on t' Pirs dockin' module, a spot vacated by t' previous Progress vessel that undocked Wednesday. Avast, me proud beauty! T' old vehicle, packed with trash, will remain in orbit through May 18 t' perform some experiments on t' interaction betwixt t' craft's engine firings and t' plasma environmental around Earth, NASA said. Avast! Today's launch, known in t' station's assembly matrix as Progress mission 33P, shiver me timbers, will deliver two-and-a-half tons o' supplies t' t' station. T' "dry" cargo tucked aboard t' Progress amounts t' 3384 pounds in t' form o' spare parts, life support gear and equipment hardware. Arrr! T' refuelin' module carries ...