Russian craft blasts off for International Space Station

2012-10-31 73

Here on the plains of Kazakhstan, the ISS Progress 49 blasts off for the International Space Station.

The cargo vehicle launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome shortly after 7:30 GMT on Wednesday morning.

Progress 49 was expected to dock with the orbital research centre about six hours after launch.

The Russian spacecraft is carrying 2.9 tonnes of supplies to the ISS, which is in orbit 200 miles above Earth's surface.

The International Space Station travels at over 17,000 miles per hour, and circumnavigates the globe 15.7 times each day.

Free Traffic Exchange