Article Posted on : - Jan 27, 2012

The Soyuz rocket lifts off carrying the Progress M-14M space freighter. A Roscosmos photo

MOSCOW (PTI): Russia has launched a cargo spacecraft carrying 2.6 metric tonnes of essential supplies like food and fuel for the International Space Station (ISS), the country's Mission Control said Thursday.

The Soyuz-U rocket with the Progress M-14M space freighter blasted off at 00:06 GMT Thursday from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan.

The spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered the orbit a few minutes later, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

The freighter will deliver over 2.6 metric tonnes of supplies to the ISS. The cargo includes fuel, water and food supplies, as well as scientific equipment.

The Progress' docking with the ISS is set for 01:08 GMT on Saturday.

Though the main mission of Progress-family freighters has been as cargo spacecraft, they are also used to adjust ISS's orbit and conduct scientific experiments.

They have been the backbone of Russian space cargo fleet for decades.