Plume left by Progress 63 as it was launched into space seen by Tim Peake. Credits: ESA/NASA

Plume left by Progress 63 as it was launched into space seen by Tim Peake. Credits: ESA/NASA

The busy arrivals and departures around the International Space Station continues with the launch of the Russian Progress supply spacecraft from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

ESA astronaut Tim Peake spotted the spacecraft exit our atmosphere and enter Earth orbit, leaving a characteristic contrail.

The unmanned spacecraft will catch up with the Space Station by adjusting its orbit before arriving and docking automatically to the Russian module on Saturday. Tim’s cosmonaut colleagues will take care of unloading supplies on Progress.

Plume left by Progress 63 as it was launched into space seen by Tim Peake. Credits: ESA/NASA

Plume left by Progress 63 as it was launched into space seen by Tim Peake. Credits: ESA/NASA

The previous Progress spacecraft left the Station 30 March to will burn up harmlessly on reentry into our atmosphere.

Meanwhile in Florida Space-X’s Dragon is getting ready to launch its sixth supply spacecraft 8 April. Unlike the automated Progress docking this commercial spacecraft berths to the Space Station via the 16-m Canadarm similar to the Cygnus spacecraft that recently arrived.

When Dragon is docked a number of experiments need to be unloaded and ran quickly as they contain perishable samples. Ground control are preparing its arrival closely and the astronauts will work together to get the supplies where they need to be quickly.

Watch the docking of Cygnus via NASA TV from 18:15 GMT: