The International Space Station received its latest resupply ship today as a Russian-made cargo carrier loaded with nearly three tons of fuel, food and equipment successfully docked to the outpost.

File image of Russian Progress cargo freighter in space. Credit: NASA

Flying entirely on computer-control, the unmanned Progress M-49 craft made its automated docking to the aft port of the station's Zvezda service module at 1355 GMT (9:55 a.m. EDT), two days after launching from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The station's two-man crew, Expedition 9 commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineer Michael Fincke, are scheduled to open up the Progress later today and begin unloading supplies tomorrow.

The freighter's cargo compartment is carrying over 2,800 pounds of food, spare parts and science experiments. Russian spacesuit hardware, a new battery for the Zvezda electrical system and a camera unit to support future European Automated Transfer Vehicle dockings are packed on the Progress.

The crew will find a few gifts from home, too.

"They were able to put some personal things aboard this Progress for us. We were so busy that I never had a chance to ask my wife or the team in Houston what they actually have onboard. So it is going to be a really big surprise," Fincke said in an interview with CBS News on Wednesday.

The ship's refueling compartment carries about 1,408 pounds of propellant for the station's thrusters. Also aboard are 62 pounds of oxygen and 924 pounds of potable water, according the spacecraft-maker RSC Energia.

This is the fourteenth resupply mission to the International Space Station, giving it the name Progress 14P in the station's assembly sequence.

The station is fully reliant upon the Russian Progress resupply ships until the U.S. space shuttle fleet returns to flight next spring. Today's docking was the fifth since the Columbia tragedy.

"The Russian side has really stepped up by sending these Progresses," Fincke said. "There is definitely enough (supplies) for two people to live comfortably aboard. We are not rationing our water. We are careful but that just makes plain sense. We are not rationing our food. We are doing good. We have enough air, we have enough everything."

While the shuttles are grounded, the station Expedition crews were reduced from three to two crewmembers to lessen the amount of supplies needed in space.

"As long as the Progresses keep coming, we will be able to maintain two people indefinitely," Fincke added.

The next Progress is expected in late July.

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: PROGRESS 14P DOCKS TO STATION THURSDAY QT
VIDEO: CREW PREVIEWS UPCOMING SPACEWALK DURING INTERVIEW QT
SUBSCRIBE NOW