Cargo rocket blasts off for three-day trip to ISS

MOSCOW, Oct 23 (Reuters) A cargo rocket with supplies of food and water for the International Space Station (ISS) blasted off today, starting a three-day journey to the orbital outpost manned by a US-Russian-German crew.

The Progress rocket lifted off from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1741 Moscow time 1911 IST, Russian agencies quoted Mission Control officials as saying.

Mission control said the rocket would dock with the ISS at 1828 Moscow time 1958 IST on Thursday.

Apart from the usual space rations and water, Russian Mikhail Tyurin, American Michael Lopez-Alegria and German Thomas Reiter will also receive fresh fruit, vegetables, parcels from their relatives and loved ones and additional supplies of fuel.

The trio has manned the station since September. Reiter's mission will be over in December, while the Russian and American will spend another five months in orbit.

Reuters AB DB2109