Soyuz Spacecraft with US Astronaut, Two Russian Cosmonauts Docks at ISS

The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
TT

Soyuz Spacecraft with US Astronaut, Two Russian Cosmonauts Docks at ISS

The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A Russian spacecraft blasted off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome on Friday carrying two Russian cosmonauts and a US astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS), live TV images showed.

At 1853 GMT the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft with American Loral O'Hara and Russians Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub on board docked at the ISS, Russia's Roscosmos space agency said.

They will join the current crew of NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Frank Rubio, Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin, Konstantin Borisov and Sergei Prokopyev, as well as Denmark's Andreas Mogensen and Japan's Satoshi Furukawa.

O'Hara and Chub are on their first spaceflight, while Kononenko is on his fifth, Reuters reported.

Russia's space program suffered a major setback last month when its Luna-25 spacecraft crashed during an attempt to land near the south pole of the moon in the country's first lunar mission in 47 years.

The ISS is one of the few international projects on which the United States and Russia still cooperate closely.



Friendly Labrador Aldo Calms Ecuadorean Kids at Dentist's Office

Patient Samuel Ayala pets Aldo, a therapy Labrador Retriever, after a pediatric dental session at a private clinic aimed at easing children's fears during dental procedures, in Quito, Ecuador October 22, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro
Patient Samuel Ayala pets Aldo, a therapy Labrador Retriever, after a pediatric dental session at a private clinic aimed at easing children's fears during dental procedures, in Quito, Ecuador October 22, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro
TT

Friendly Labrador Aldo Calms Ecuadorean Kids at Dentist's Office

Patient Samuel Ayala pets Aldo, a therapy Labrador Retriever, after a pediatric dental session at a private clinic aimed at easing children's fears during dental procedures, in Quito, Ecuador October 22, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro
Patient Samuel Ayala pets Aldo, a therapy Labrador Retriever, after a pediatric dental session at a private clinic aimed at easing children's fears during dental procedures, in Quito, Ecuador October 22, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro

An affable honey-cream Labrador retriever named Aldo is helping young Ecuadorean children relax at the dentist's office, allowing them to cuddle up and stroke him to distract them from noisy machines and invasive oral procedures.
With some five years' experience in emotional support, 8-year-old Aldo understands some 30 commands and enjoys climbing on top of children sitting in his owner Glenda Arias' dental chair.
"Visits always tend to be traumatic, but Aldo brings tranquility and peace to my daughter," said mother Beatriz Armas. "These visits are totally pleasant for her."
Arias said Aldo's clinical involvement had helped transform the behavior of children attending her consultations.
"Aldo is essential," she said.