Russian capsule blasts off

Russia's Soyuz spacecraft has blasted off from Kazakhstan with three astronauts on board. Their mission will increase the International Space Station (ISS) crew to six for the first time. Belgian Frank de Winne, Canadian Robert Thirsk and Russian Roman Romanenko lifted off successfully from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome. The incoming crew will join Russian Gennady Padalka, US astronaut Michael Barratt and Japan's Koichi Wakata. The spacecraft safely reached its targeted orbit of about 120-150 miles above the earth. Soyuz is expected to unite with the ISS on Friday 220 miles above the Earth.

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ITN | May 27, 2009

Tags:. .padalka. .wakata. .capsule. .cosmodrome. .baikonur