Craft carries UK tests

Scientists from UK universities will be closely watching the progress of an unmanned Russian spacecraft, launched by a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan last week.

The spacecraft will be carrying a payload containing samples of microorganisms, antibodies, fluorescent dyes and rock from Devon, which will be used in experiments testing how they react to the extreme conditions found in space. The experiments cover a wide range of disciplines ranging from physics to meteoritics. A capsule supporting the experiments will remain in low orbit for about 12 days before returning to Earth.