N° 21–2005: Soyuz TMA-6 with ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori arrives at the International Space Station

Soyuz TMA-6 lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days ago on Flight 10S. During the journey, Vittori, an Italian, was the Soyuz Flight Engineer, taking an active role alongside the Soyuz Commander, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, in piloting and docking the spacecraft. Krikalev was a member of the very first ISS expedition crew in 2000/2001, and will be the ISS Expedition 11 Commander. The third crewmember, NASA astronaut John L. Phillips, will be the ISS Expedition 11 Flight Engineer.

Vittori is the first European astronaut to fly to the ISS for a second time, having made his first flight on the Marco Polo mission in 2002. During his 8-day stay on the ISS, he will carry out an extensive experiment programme in the fields of human physiology, biology, technology and education. One of his first tasks will be to transfer experiment equipment and samples from Soyuz TMA-6 to the ISS. Other experiment equipment for the mission was transported to the ISS on the unmanned Progress M-52 supply ship, launched on 28 February.

The ENEIDE mission is being co-sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Defence and the region of Lazio in the framework of an agreement between ESA and the Russian federal space agency, Roscosmos. Many of the experiments were developed by Italian researchers and built by Italian industry and research institutions. In addition to the experimental programme of the ENEIDE mission, time has been set aside for Vittori to take part in communication activities and emergency ISS training on his first day on the station.

His programme of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and educational activities will continue throughout the mission, which concludes when he returns with the ISS Expedition 10 crew, Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov, with a scheduled landing in Kazakhstan at midnight (Central European Time) on 24/25 April. They will return in Soyuz TMA-5, which has been stationed at the ISS with the Expedition 10 crew for the past six months, serving as an emergency lifeboat. Vittori will play an important role in the reentry, descent and landing on the return flight in Soyuz TMA-5, which flew the Expedition 10 crew to the ISS last October. Soyuz TMA-6 will remain docked with the ISS for the next six months, becoming the lifeboat for the ISS Expedition 11 crew.

Information on the ENEIDE mission and its progress can be obtained from www.esa.int/eneide and www.spaceflight.esa.int/eneide/status

For further information please contact:

Franco Bonacina

ESA Media Relations Division

Paris (France)

Tel: +33 1 5369 7155

Fax: +33 1 5369 7690

Dieter Isakeit

Erasmus User Centre and Communication Office

Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes

Noordwijk (The Netherlands)

Tel: +31 71 565 5451

Fax: +31 71 565 8008

e-mail: dieter.isakeit@esa.int

 

For further information:

ESA Media Relations Division

Tel: +33.(0)1.5369.7155

Fax: +33.(0)1.5369.7690