In accordance with ISS program, the manned space ship Soyuz TMA-21 has been launched from Baikonur cosmodrome on April 4th 22:18:20 GMT, MCC's press-service reports. This spaceship is named after first spaceman due to the 50th anniversary of his flight. AEX.ru

Two Russian astronauts form part of the ship's crew: commander Alexander Samokutyaev and onboard engineer Andrey Borisenko. The second onboard engineer is American astronaut Ronald Garan.

The orbital carrier rocket has placed the ship into orbit with the following parameters:

minimal height above Earth's surface - 201,20 km;
maximal height above Earth's surface - 254,69 km;
orbit time - 88,76 min;
inclination - 51,65 degrees.

MCC situated near Moscow (in Korolev) has proceeded with ship's flight management after separation of Soyuz TMA-21 from the last stage of the orbital carrier rocket.

According to the reports from the orbit and telemetric data, the flight is running normally. The ship's docking with ISS is planned on April 6th 23:18 GMT. This launch has become the 110th in the network of ISS program.