A Soyuz rocket launcher carrying a new module, Mini-Research Module 2, has successfully lifted off for the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur space base in Kazakhstan.

The research module is expected to provide additional capacity to the space station for scientific experiments, according to Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency.

The Progress M spacecraft carrying the module will transport food, water and supplies to the space station on the mission.

The spacecraft will dock on the ISS on 12 November 2009.