Russian cargo ship blasts off for International Space Station
A Russian cargo ship blasted off Friday from the Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan on a mission to resupply the International Space Station (ISS), Russia's space agency said.
"The launch went ahead without any problems. The cargo ship separated from the booster rocket nine minutes after launch to begin flying under its own power," a spokesman said, according to the news agency RIA Novosti.
"The approach of the Progress M-67 (cargo ship) to the ISS will take five days. The docking is scheduled for 29 July," the spokesman said.
The Russian spacecraft is making its way to the ISS with 2.5 tonnes (2,500 kilograms) of freight: fuel, scientific equipment, water, gas, and parcels from NASA, the US space agency.
Six astronauts, including two Russians and an American, are currently on board the ISS.
(c) 2009 AFP