Video: Soyuz MS-01 leaves the space station for landing

Engineers readied a Russian Soyuz rocket for launch Wednesday to ferry a veteran cosmonaut and two NASA shuttle fliers to the International Space Station for a five-month stay.

A Russian Soyuz rocket lifted off Friday from French Guiana with four broadband satellites for the O3b network, which provides high-speed connectivity to developing countries, ships and other customers who lack a reliable Internet link.

The Russian Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts and an American astronaut successfully docks to the International Space Station after a two-day trek from Earth.