Russia's prime International Space Station (ISS) contractor RSC Energia plans to launch a specialised Progress M-CO1 spacecraft with a docking compartment to the station on 15 September aboard a Soyuz booster from Baikonur.
This will be followed by another Soyuz launch of the crewed Soyuz TM32 spacecraft on 21 October on a crew return craft changeover mission, with the return of the older Soyuz TM31. The Progress M1-7 logistics vehicle will be launched on a Soyuz in mid-November.
RSC Energia is also proceeding with production of the Enterprise Multi-Purpose Module, which is being developed with the US company Spacehab, and a simplified science power platform which will replace the full size component that was planned originally.
The first cell culture experiments have also been conducted aboard the ISS. Four separate investigations are being carried out as part of the Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support System, in which different types of normal and abnormal cells are studied to see if microgravity results in the cells forming tissues.
Prospective space tourist Mark Shuttleworth has passed his medical examinations for a Soyuz flight. No contract has been signed with Shuttleworth, who is continuing cosmonaut training. Star City officials, however, say that a flight in the second quarter of 2002 is possible.Source: Flight International
