SPACE WIRE
Soyuz spacecraft successfully enters orbit on mission to ISS
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AFP) Oct 18, 2003
The Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts, an American, a Russian and a Spaniard, blasted off from the Baikonur consmodrome at 0538 GMT Saturday and was successfully placed into orbit eight minutes after take-off, Russian space control officials here said.

The Soyuz TMA-3 craft is scheduled to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) two days later, at 0711 GMT on Monday.

It is the first space mission for a European astronaut on the ISS since the disaster of the American space shuttle Columbia in February, and the presence of Spaniard Pedro Duque on the flight was seen as a boost for the European space program.

The other two astronauts are American Michael Foale and Russian Alexander Kaleri.

SPACE.WIRE