Aviation - NASA Reports "Off-Nominal Situation"

Moscow, August 24, 2011: Mission Control Moscow reported an abnormal situation from the Progress 44 cargo craft that launched on time at 0900 EDT Wednesday.

According to NASA, Progress 44 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome into a cloudless sky at 1900 Kazakhstan time bound for the International Space Station and a docking on Friday. At the time of launch, the space station was flying 230 miles over Equatorial Guinea on the west coast of Africa. The spacecraft is carrying 2.9 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the space station.

But, 5 minutes and 50 seconds after launch, Mission Control Houston received a report of an “off-nominal situation” during the rocket's third and final stage. NASA says further details will be provided as they become available.