Editorial Standards

Latest News Today maintains rigorous editorial standards. Our team verifies information from trusted sources and provides context to help readers understand complex stories.

Last Updated: Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 07:13 PM
Category: Tech

Editor's Note

Latest News Today provides comprehensive coverage and analysis of breaking news stories. This article is part of our ongoing coverage of rocket three man crew blasts space station n480256, bringing you verified information from trusted sources with added context and expert perspective.

Why This Matters: Understanding the full context of this story helps readers make informed decisions and stay updated on developments that impact our community.

Rocket With Three-Man Crew Blasts Off to Space Station

A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying a three-man international crew, including Britain's first official astronaut, Tim Peake, blasted off on Tuesday.
Get more newsRocket With Three-Man Crew Blasts Off to Space StationNBC News LogoSearchSearchLiveNBC News LogoToday Logo - Analysis & Updates [2026-10-01] | Latest News Todayon

A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying a three-man international crew, including Britain's first official astronaut, Tim Peake, blasted off on Tuesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The rocket carrying the Soyuz TMA-19M spaceship lifted off at 5:03 p.m. local time, beginning its six-hour journey to the International Space Station, and successfully reached its designated orbit about nine minutes later.

Read More: Astronaut Trio Returns from Space Station After Months in Orbit

As well as Peake, the crew includes commander Yuri Malenchenko, a former Russian Air Force pilot and a veteran of long-duration space flights, and NASA astronaut Tim Kopra.

Peake, 43, a former army major who is on a six-month mission for the European Space Agency, became the first Briton to go into space since Helen Sharman traveled on a Soviet spacecraft for eight days in 1991.

He is also the first astronaut officially representing the British government and wearing a Union Jack flag on his arm.

The same trio of Malenchenko, Kopra and Peake are set to return to Earth on June 5 next year.

Read More: NASA Want Ad: Astronauts Needed to Help Get to Mars