Russian-US Crew Blasts Off to Space Station

Text of report by Russian news agency RIA

Mission Control Centre (Korolev), 14 October: The Soyuz booster rocket successfully launched the Soyuz TMA-5 manned spacecraft from the Baykonur space site at 0706 [0306 gmt] today. The spaceship is to take a crew of the 10th Russian-American expedition to the International Space Station [ISS].

NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao heads the expedition. Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov will officially be his subordinate for six months.

Lt-Col Yuriy Shargin of the Russian Space Troops is going with them to stay at the ISS for 10 days. He is to return from the station on 24 October with the 9th expedition, Gennadiy Padalka and Michael Fincke, who have worked at the ISS for half a year. Thus a crew rotation will take place.