Soyuz-FG takes off for the International Space Station

Soyuz-FG takes off for the International Space Station

As expected, the Russian spacecraft has taken off from the Central Asian steppes to take three astronauts in a space capsule on a two-day journey to the International Space Station. It took off from the Russia’s base at the Baikonur Cosmodrome with a Russian-U.S. crew and an Italian astronaut. They would be welcoming the Space Shuttle on the International Space Station when it takes off sometime next month.

Ever since the Columbia Shuttle Disaster, Russia took care of all the supplies and crew missions to the ISS by sending their smaller crafts. The latest mission is being managed by Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev and American John Phillips who would stay on the ISS for six-months. The remaining crewmember Italian Roberto Vittori would return with Russian Salizhan Sharipov and American Leroy Chiao, the current residents of the ISS after 10 days.

The launch was a huge success as the Space engineers broke into applause after watching the launch on a large screen at Russian Mission Control outside Moscow. They later confirmed that space ship had entered the orbit and that all systems were working fine. All the eyes would now be on the crew of the upcoming Space Shuttle, which has become a matter of pride and achievement for the people at NASA.