spacetoday.net: Soyuz launched to ISS

Posted: Fri, Apr 15, 2005, 8:49 AM ET (1249 GMT)
Soyuz launch of Soyuz TMA-6 to ISS (RSC Energia)

A Soyuz rocket carrying a new crew for the International Space Station lifted off early Friday. The Soyuz booster, carrying the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft, lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 8:46 pm EDT Thursday (0046 GMT, 4:46 am Moscow time Friday) and placed the spacecraft into orbit about nine minutes later. On board the Soyuz is the Expedition 11 crew of Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips, as well as visiting ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori. The Soyuz is scheduled to dock with the ISS at 10:19 pm EDT Saturday (0219 GMT Sunday). Krikalev and Phillips with relieve the current Expedition 10 crew of Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov, who have spent the last six months on the ISS. Chiao, Sharipov, and Vittori will return to Earth on April 24.