A Russian Soyuz capsule has blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on a mission to the International Space Station.

Two Russian and one American astronaut were on board the capsule, set to join three others on the ISS, orbiting 240 miles above the surface of the Earth.

Russia hopes the launch will smooth over fears that the once pioneering and reliable Soyuz programme was slipping, following a series of failed launches and accidents in the last year.

In the event, this launch had to be delayed after the contractor tasked with preparing the capsule, RKK Energia damaged it during a pressure test.