DATE=05/05/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=KAZAKHSTAN SPACE TRIP (S)

NUMBER=2-289434

BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI

DATELINE=MOSCOW

INTRO: South African space tourist Mark Shuttleworth is back on earth after a mission to the International Space Station. Mr. Shuttleworth was the first African to go into space and the second paying passenger, as Bill Gasperini reports from Moscow.

TEXT: Mark Shuttleworth and two crewmates landed on schedule on the steppes of Kazakhstan, near where they blasted off 10-days ago.

Mr. Shuttleworth emerged from his Soyuz landing capsule saying the trip was "fantastic". He and his Russian and Italian crewmates underwent a series of medical tests and were pronounced in fine shape by doctors.

The 28-year-old South African Internet tycoon paid the Russian space agency 20-million-dollars for the trip. But he dislikes being called a "tourist".

Mr. Shuttleworth performed a series of experiments during his stay on the space station. The experiments included research on the H-I-V virus which causes AIDS, a major problem in South Africa.

Mr. Shuttleworth was the second person to pay for his ride into space, he followed American businessman Dennis Tito who visited the station last year.

As a momento, Mr. Shuttleworth purchased the Soyuz capsule, as well as his spacesuit. (SIGNED)

NEB/BG/RAE