The Russian space freighter Progress M-06M has successfully lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on its journey atop a Soyuz-U rocket to the International Space Station.

The rocket orbited the cargo vehicle following separation of Progress M-06M from its third stage. Mission Control Centre in Moscow (MCC-M) has now taken over control of the vehicle.

The freighter will deliver about 2.5-tonnes of cargo supplies to the station including propellant, water, air, scientific equipment and consumables.

The vehicle will dock onto the station today (2 July 2010), onto the Zvezda module that had previously been occupied by the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft.