The fourth taxi flight to the International Space Station carrying a
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and two Russian crew members made a
perfect lift-off today (Wednesday, 30 October 2002) from the vast open
plains of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, into the rising sun at 08:11 local time
(04:11 Central European Time, 03:11 Universal Time).

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, a former Belgian Air Force pilot, and his
fellow crew members, Soyuz Mission Commander Sergei Zaletin and Soyuz
Flight Engineer Yuri Lonchakov, are due to dock with the Space Station in
two days’ time on Friday, 1 November at 06:00 CET (05:00 UT). The hatch
between the Soyuz spacecraft and the Space Station will be opened at 07:30
CET (06:30 UT).

The crew are flying a new Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft, a modified and updated
version of the TM-34 Soyuz capsule currently attached to the Space
Station.

It will remain attached to the Space Station for six months – acting as a
rescue vehicle for the resident crew in case of an onboard emergency.

Soyuz Flight Engineer De Winne, the first Belgian astronaut to visit the
Space Station and the first non-Russian ever to fly on the first flight of
a new Russian vehicle, is the fourth European astronaut to visit the
Station.

During his eight-day stay, De Winne will carry out a programme of 23
experiments in the fields of life and physical sciences and education,
including four physical science experiments using the Microgravity Science
Glovebox (MSG) – an important research facility designed and developed in
Europe.

De Winne’s hopes for the mission extend beyond the success of the new
Soyuz spacecraft delivery and the programme of experiments. They also
encompass the desire to see space made real and exciting for young people.

“During the mission I will be involved in a variety of educational
activities. It is important to talk directly to our young people – we need
to make space, technology and science interesting and relevant to them,”
he said.

The Odissea crew will head back to Earth on board the older TM-34 Soyuz
currently attached to the Space Station. Landing in Kazakhstan is
scheduled for Sunday, 10 November 2002 at 05:03 local time (01:03 CET,
00:03 UT).

For further information, please contact:

ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33 (0)1.5369.7155
Fax: +33 (0)1.5369.7690