The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said a trio of astronauts including Kimiya Yui from Japan reached orbit successfully after being launched early Thursday on a Soyuz spaceship from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

The liftoff took place as scheduled at 6:02 a.m. Japan time. Mr. Yui became the 10 Japanese astronaut in space. He is traveling with Oleg Kononenko of the Russian space agency and Kjell Lindgren of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

According to the Japanese space agency, the Soyuz spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station a little before noon. Mr. Yui will work on a variety of scientific studies during his five months at the station, and he will also operate a robot arm to dock a transfer vehicle carrying supplies. That vehicle is scheduled for launch from Japan in August.

Born in Nagano prefecture, Mr. Yui, 45, joined the Air Self Defense Forces as a fighter pilot in 1992. He was chosen as an astronaut candidate in 2009.

Before his launch, Mr. Yui tweeted on his official account that he was all set for his flight after meeting with his family, getting five hours of sleep and undergoing the sterilization process.

The astronaut also said that he spent time watching the Russian film “The White Sun of the Desert,” which has been a tradition for those riding on the Soyuz spacecraft.