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Brazil signs deal for first astronaut with Russia
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    • MOSCOW (AFP) Oct 18, 2005
     Russia and Brazil on Tuesday signed a contract for the first space flight by a Brazilian, planned for next year, during a visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Moscow.

    Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes is due to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Russian Soyuz space capsule next March, said Anatoli Perminov, the head of the Russian space agency, after signing the contract with his Brazilian counterpart in the presence of both country's leaders.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the "technological alliance" that his country was building with Brazil in the space industry.

    "The signing of this contract... is an important step in this direction," Putin said.

    The flight would cost Brazil 20 million dollars (16.7 million euros), "as usual," the head of the Russian space agency said.

    The Brazilian astronaut arrived in Russia several days ago for training and medical tests, Perminov said.




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