Russian space launch

A Russian spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts and a US astronaut to the international space station lifted off from a launch site in Kazakhstan today, Reuters reported.

Alexander Kaleri, Oleg Skripochka and Scott Kelly are to join three other crew members on the orbital station after a two-day trip from Earth aboard the Soyuz capsule.

The rocket blasted off on schedule at midday (NZT) from its launch pad at the Baikonur facility.