The American astronaut, Kathleen Robins, the Russians Sergey Rykov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov launched on Wednesday to the International Space Station aboard a Russian-made "Soyuz" rocket.

The two Russian astronauts from the agency "Roskosmos" and the American agency "NASA" took off at the exact time at 05:45 GMT from the Russian Baikonur base in Kazakhstan, according to pictures published by the space agencies.

And the Russian space agency stated via "Twitter" that the spacecraft "was successfully placed in orbit."

The three scientists will break a new record related to the shortest flight towards the orbital station, which they will reach within only 3 hours, compared to 6 hours in the habit, and the vehicle is expected to dock with the station at 08:52 GMT.

In one of the few remaining collaborations between the Russians and the Westerners, the three astronauts are joined by colleagues who currently operate the station - Chris Cassidy (NASA), Anatoly Yanichin and Evan Wagner (Roscosmos), who are due to return to Earth on October 22.

This flight took place on board a "Soyuz" missile between two launches towards the International Space Station for an American missile belonging to the "SpaceX" company, allowing the United States to send astronauts to space again.

Until the trip of Robert Benken and Doug Hurley last May 30 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Russian "Soyuz" missiles were the only means of sending astronauts to the International Space Station, and these two astronauts returned to Earth on August 2.

The next Space X flight to the International Space Station is scheduled to operate next month, and it will have 3 Americans and a Japanese on board.

Following the signing of "SpaceX" and "Boeing", two groups from the private sector, partnership agreements with "NASA", there is increasing speculation about the return of the "space race" between several countries.

However, the three pioneers, who set off on Wednesday, focused on the ability of spaceflight to bring together politically rival countries, for a common goal.

"I'm definitely very lucky to be on the station," Kathleen Robbins said during a pre-launch press conference, avoiding touching on "Space X".

This is Robins' second space mission, which on Wednesday celebrates her forty-second birthday.

Source: Agencies

By:Nadeemy Haded