Close-up look at Soyuz spacecraft ahead of latest launch

On Friday morning, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft will launch from Baikonur on the Kazakstan steppe, heading for the International Space Station. On board will be two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut, Scott Kelly.

From next year, the Soyuz will be the only way for Americans to get into orbit, because the last space shuttle flight will be in June 2011 at the latest - and no replacement will be ready for at least five years.

Daniel Sandford is at the Baikonur cosmodrome for the launch and has been watching the preparations.