News for Fri. 03 May to Sun. 05
May 2002 South African Space Tourist Heads for Home
VOA
News 5
May 2002 01:48 UTC

South Africa's space
tourist is coming home.
Mark Shuttleworth said goodbye to the International
Space Station early Sunday, when the Russian Soyuz capsule undocked from the
station for its three-hour-plus descent to the barren steppes of Kazakhstan.
Along with Mr. Shuttleworth, Russian flight commander Yuri Gidzenko and Italian
engineer Roberto Vittori are aboard.
Mr. Shuttleworth, an
28-year-old Internet millionaire, is the second tourist to travel to the space
station, after U.S. businessman Dennis Tito made the trip last year. Mr.
Shuttleworth paid 20 million dollars for the experience and has purchased the
Soyuz capsule and his space suit as souvenirs of his
adventure.
Upon landing, the
crew members will be evaluated by Russian doctors and will then spend a few
days at Star City recuperating from their trip.
Some information
for this report provided by AP and AFP.
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