In order to allow Russian cosmonauts to fly on American spacecraft in exchange for US astronauts being able to ride on Russia's Soyuz, NASA and Russia's space agency Roscosmos have signed a long-sought agreement to integrate flights to the International Space Station.

'Development of cooperation': NASA signs deal with Roscosmos to share space station flights

A Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia's Far East on Thursday carrying 36 UK telecommunications and internet satellites, the Roscosmos space agency said.

Russia's Soyuz spacecraft blasts off to extend internet orbit

Russia's Soyuz spacecraft takes quickest crew trip to International Space Station

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo reaches space for first time

Using knives and shears, a pair of Russian spacewalkers Tuesday cut samples of material around a mysterious hole in a Soyuz spacecraft docked on the International Space Station that a Moscow official suggested could have been deliberate sabotage.

Russian spacewalkers take sample of mystery hole at space station

The launch was delayed by two weeks as Russian space officials carried out further software tests on the modified vehicle

Three astronauts blast off for International Space Station in upgraded Soyuz craft