Two Russian cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut soared into orbit in a Soyuz spacecraft today at the start of a two-day journey to the International Space Station. The trio's mission is expected to last just over four months with docking at the orbital laboratory taking place on Friday. The 49-year-old Kimbrough, who logged less than 16 days in space during a single mission aboard the US space shuttle Endeavour, will command the expedition aboard the orbital laboratory. Today's launch is the second Soyuz space flight to be delayed this year after issues with software saw the launch of the newly upgraded Soyuz MS-01 postponed by two weeks over the summer. The Antares rocket that blasted off from Virginia earlier this week is on course to bring 2,300 kilogrammes of food and equipment to the orbital laboratory and is scheduled to arrive by Sunday.

Source: dna October 20, 2016 05:48 UTC