An unmanned Russian supply vessel blasted off late Sunday to link up to the International Space Station (ISS) officials said.
The vessel, called Progress, was ferrying fuel, technical equipment, food, and water for the state-of-the-art space station that will get its first crew in October.
Two US spaceships and a second supply vessel are expected to join the ISS before the team of US commander William Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yury Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalyov arrive on October 30.
The ISS currently comprises the Zarya cargo module and the Zvezda service module which houses the living and working quarters.
Zvezda also controls the navigation and guidance systems until the US-built Destiny module takes over.
The ISS project involves 16 countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan and Russia. When finished, it will be 100 meters (yards) long, and weigh more than 450 tonnes.
