DATE=04/27/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=RUSSIA/SPACE DOCKING (S)

NUMBER=2-289166

BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: May be used as alternate to Space Tourist, 2-289154 ///

INTRO: The world's second space tourist has arrived at the International Space Station -- or I-S-S -- after a two-day flight in a Soyuz spacecraft. But Mark Shuttleworth of South Africa says he will be doing a lot more than looking out of the window during his time aboard the station. Bill Gasperini reports from Moscow.

TEXT: Mark Shuttleworth and two crewmates from Russia and Italy entered the space station after their Soyuz spacecraft docked with the I-S-S early on Saturday.

They were greeted by the three-man Russian-American crew already on board the orbiting station.

The primary goal of the mission was to bring the Soyuz craft up to the station, where it will replace a similar craft which has served as an escape vehicle in case of emergency.

But Mr. Shuttleworth says there is a lot more to his ten-day mission, for which he reportedly paid 20-million dollars.

But although he paid for his trip, the 28-year-old Internet millionaire says he is not a "tourist."

Mr. Shuttleworth will conduct tests as part of research into the deadly virus that causes AIDS, a major killer back in his native South Africa.

His mission is receiving blanket media coverage in South Africa, in part because he's the first African ever to go to space. (Signed)

NEB/BG/DW/TW