Two Russians and an American take off for the ISS aboard a Soyuz rocket

Sylvie Claire / October 14, 2020

US astronaut Kathleen Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Svertchkov successfully lifted off to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday in a Russian Soyuz rocket.

The two Roskosmos cosmonauts and the NASA astronaut took off as agreed at 5:45 GMT (7:45 in Belgium) from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according to images from the two space agencies. Within minutes of takeoff, Roskosmos posted on Twitter that the spacecraft "has successfully entered orbit. »

The three scientists will set a new record for the shortest flight to the orbital station, which they will reach in just three hours, compared to six hours usually. Their docking at the station is scheduled for 08:52 GMT (10:52 in Belgium).

They will join on board the ISS, a rare example of still functioning cooperation between Russians and Westerners, current occupants Chris Cassidy (Nasa), Anatoly Ivanichine and Ivan Vagner (Roskosmos), whose return to Earth is scheduled for October 22.

Credit : Sudinfo