The Soyuz TM mission, to be launched to the Mir space station from Baikonur on 4 April, has been extended from 45 days to between 70 and 90 days. The mission, which will be the first to Mir since last August, will be crewed by Sergie Zaletin and Alexander Kaleri. Russian film actor Vladimir Steklov will not join the crew as, apart from a small initial payment, no funds have been received for his place on the mission. The flight of Steklov on the next mission is not ruled out.
Source: Flight International