A Soyuz spacecraft prepares for liftoff.

(SOT: voiceover of countdown and liftoff)

It's carrying two Russians and an American to the International Space Station, where the men are to spend five months in orbit.

The launch had been delayed by eight days because of an equipment problem, but Tuesday's takeoff was successful.

U.S. astronaut Kevin Ford is making his second space voyage, while the Russians cosmonauts are on their first mission.

The trio will join three ISS crew members already at the station who are slated to return to Earth on November 12.