A cargo ship is on its way to the Russian space station Mir, carrying supplies and equipment including a big mirror which is supposed to be able to reflect sunlight down to Earth.

Scientists say the mirror, which measures about thirty metres in diameter, could be used to warm up colder areas which rarely see the sun's rays.

It's expected to serve as a prototype for even bigger mirrors that might be sent into space in the future.

The supply ship, which blasted off from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, is due to dock with Mir on Tuesday.