A Russian spacecraft carrying three astronauts has blasted off towards the international space station. Their arrival will bring the station's permanent members up to six.

The Soyuz TMA-15 craft is carrying astronauts from Canada, Russia and Belgium, and took to the skies in northern Kazakhstan.

The crew will find a remodeled station, thanks to recent work carried out by the crew of the US space shuttle Endeavor.

They installed a new bathroom and a recycling system that converts astronauts' urine and sweat into drinking water.

(CCTV May 28, 2009)