A Russian rocket carrying two cosmonauts and an American astronaut to the international space station streaked into orbit today – another crew rotation in a Russian space vehicle filling in for US space shuttles.

A computer software error likely sent a Russian spacecraft into a rare ballistic descent that subjected the three men on board to chest-crushing gravity loads that made it hard to breathe, space experts said today.

American astronaut Edward Lu and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko were due to reach the international space station today to relieve the three crew members on board.

South African Internet millionaire Mark Shuttleworth, the world’s second space tourist, landed safely in Kazakhstan early today - and said his space voyage was ‘‘the best thing I’ve ever done’’.

The world’s first space tourist, California millionaire Dennis Tito, checked into the orbiting international space station yesterday and floated inside with a huge grin.