Moscow-Sana
The carrier rocket (Soyuz 2.1a) and the manned spacecraft (Soyuz MC17) were launched this morning towards the international station from the Baikonur space base in Kazakhstan.
According to Sputnik, the spacecraft is carrying three astronauts on board on a long-term exploration trip to the International Space Station.
Shortly after launch, the vehicle separated from the Soyuz missile and began its independent journey to the station.
It is planned that Soyuz will approach the international station within a period of three hours and seven minutes, which is the shortest trip the vehicle has made towards the station so far.
The crew members consist of two Russian astronauts, Sergey Ryzhikov, Sergey Cod Sverchkov, and American astronaut Kathleen Robins.
