Moscow, Oct 28 (IANS) A Russian spaceship, launched from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan Wednesday, is delivering 2.5 tonnes of supplies that includes New Year gifts for the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).

The Progress M-08M cargo spaceship atop a Soyuz-U carrier rocket blasted off at around 7.12 p.m. Moscow time (1312 GMT), Xinhua reported citing the Mission Control center outside Moscow.

It will take to the ISS fuel and equipment for the station, and oxygen, water, clothing and food for the astronauts.

The astronauts will also receive New Year gifts sealed in a package with the words: ‘To be opened on December 31’, said Russia’s federal space agency Roskosmos.