US astronauts in space on Russian spacecraft

Russia has sent three astronauts to the International Space Station. One of them is an astronaut of the arch-enemy of the United States. The rocket took off from Russia's Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan on Saturday. At that time, the space shuttle was carrying American astronaut Tracy Dyson, Oleg Novitsky of Russia and Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus. The rocket entered the Earth's orbit eight minutes after launch.

It is currently circling the Earth and moving towards the International Space Station. After orbiting the Earth a total of 34 times in two days, it will connect with the station. Six other astronauts are currently aboard the International Space Station. 

Three of them are from Russia and three from the United States. Of those currently on the station, three will return to Earth on April 6.

The West has to rely on Russia to keep the International Space Station running. However, they hope that Western countries will be able to get out of dependence on Russia before 2030.