Russia launches cargo spacecraft to ISS

Moscow: Russia has launched a cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan.

The Mission Control said the Progress M-11M atop a Soyuz-U carrier rocket blasted off at 1838 Moscow time (1438 GMT) Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

The Progress M-11M separated from the rocket at an altitude of about 200 km and continued its flight toward the ISS as scheduled, the Mission Control said.

The spacecraft was scheduled to dock with the ISS June 23 at 2039 Moscow time (1639 GMT). It would deliver 2.6 tonnes of supplies for the ISS crew members.

This was the third of six Progress launches scheduled for 2011.