Rocket ready to take astronauts to space station

The Soyuz rocket that will carry three astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) was on its launch pad here on Saturday.
Russian Gennady Padalka, American Mikhael Fincke and Dutchman Andre Kuipers will blast off on Monday from Russia's Yury Gagarin launch pad, which took the first man into space in 1961.
As the rocket and capsule waited in the departing position on Saturday, the three astronauts were resting up for the mission in the nearby Cosmonaut Hotel.
"Up until now, everything has gone as planned," Sergei Brobunov, spokesman for the Russian Space Agency said.
Kuipers and Fincke will be making their first trip into space.
Kuipers will stay for two weeks to conduct experiments for the European Space Agency (ESA), while Padalka and Fincke will replace two astronauts already at the ISS.
The two will stay for six months and carry out two space walks in June and August to install equipment necessary for the European-built new automated transfer vehicle, due to arrive at the station in April 2005.