The Russian "Lifeboat" Is Safely In Orbit, Headed Toward Docking AT ISS Tomorrow (US Time)...

Just as we said, early this morning Russian time, and late last evening US time, the Russian space agency lifted off, and made orbit. It is now preparing for an entirely automated docking with ISS tomorrow, US time.

This will then bring our guy, and two of theirs, home. Some time in March, the idea is to remotely pilot the othre Soyuz module up there -- the other one with a leak -- and parachute it back into central Russia, for analysis of the coolant tubing. Here's the latest:

. . .A Russian Soyuz spacecraft blasted off on Friday on a mission to bring back to Earth a crew stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) by a leak in the cooling system of their original return capsule, Russian news agencies reported.

Tass news agency said the unmanned Soyuz MS-23 lifted off from Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan and had been placed in orbit. It was due to dock with the ISS on Saturday at 0101 GMT. . . .

Now you know -- have a great weekend, one and all!

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