A Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian, an American and a Dutchman to the International Space Station has blasted off flawlessly from Russia's launch facility in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft is to dock with the space station on Friday, in time for Christmas.

Russia launches spacecraft to ISS.

The three aboard will join three others already on the ISS.

The launch comes amid a period of trouble for Russia's space program, which provides the only way for crew to reach the space station since the US retired its space shuttle program in July.

ISS crew will conduct some 71 scientific experiments and a space walk in February.