At 22:40:42 Moscow summer time U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched
from a launch pad at Kennedy Space Center to the International Space
Station (ISS). This is the ninth space shuttle flight to visit the Space
Station. Under the ISS assembly program the mission bears a designation
of 6A, and according to NASA classification this Space Shuttle flight
is designated as STS-100.

The Space Shuttle carries a crew of seven persons including Russian
cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov, NASA astronauts Kent Rominger (commander),
Jeff Ashby (pilot), Scott Parazynski, John Phillips, European Space
Agency astronaut Umberto Guidoni, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris
Hadfiled.

The objective of the mission is to deliver the ISS robotic arm built
by the Canadian Space Agency to conduct activities throughout the station
exterior surfaces and second Multi-Purpose Logistics Module with new
equipment and cargoes.

The docking hardware Kurs, which was dismounted from cargo vehicle Progress
M-44 and manned spacecraft Soyuz TM-31 will be returned for reuse.

The docking of the Space Shuttle Orbiter with the Space Station is slated
on April 21, 2001 at 17:35:00 Moscow Time.

The International Space Station of about 111.7 tons currently consists
of manned spacecraft Soyuz TM-31, Russian Service module Zvezda, Functional
Cargo Block Zarya, U.S. modules Unity and Destiny. The Station onboard
systems operate in a normal mode.

The ISS-2 crew that has been working in orbit since March 18, 2001,
is conducting the mission program operations aboard the Station, including
preparatory operations called forth by the upcoming docking with Space
Shuttle Endeavour. Transport vehicle Progress M-44 was undocked from
the ISS for further completion of its flight. On April 18 manned spacecraft
Soyuz TM-31 was relocated to the cleared port of Russian module Zvezda.
Moreover, during the last few days the crew was busy with physical exercises
and medical research, life support system handling, routine Station
cleaning, conducted video imageries. On the Cosmonautics Day on April
the 12th a holiday "Station-MCC-M" communication session,
as well as radio talks with Patriarch Alexey II and cosmonaut Yuri Usachev
family were held.

According to the data from the Lead Operational Control Team, the International
Space Station travels in orbit with the following parameters: inclination
of 51.6*, maximum and minimum altitudes of 397.5 and 380.3 km, respectively.
The orbital period is 92.0 minutes.