Russia postpones next manned launch to ISS

Russia on Friday said the next manned launch taking astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) would take place two days later than previously announced, on November 14.

"The next manned launch is planned for November 14," the head of the Russian space agency Vladimir Popovkin said at the flight control centre, cited by the Interfax news agency.

The launch, which had been set for November 12, will be watched closely after a cargo ship taking supplies to the ISS failed to reach orbit and crashed to Earth in August.

Russia responded by freezing launches while it investigated the crash, which it later blamed on a block in the fuel supply of the Soyuz carrier rocket that was supposed to blast the ship into orbit.

Another cargo ship will set off for the ISS on November 30, Popovkin said.

Since the closure of the United States shuttle programme, Russia is the only country able to send manned missions into space.

(c) 2011 AFP