ISS astronaut falls ill

One of the International Space Station /ISS/ astronauts has fallen ill, Head of the Russian Mission Control Centre /TSUP/ press-service Valery Lyndin reported.

Meanwhile, he refused to let out any information about the sick astronaut - whether he is a Russian or an American astronaut and the diagnosis of his disease.

"According to the American regulations, the information about the health condition of the astronauts is strictly confidential and belongs to the medical service," Lyndin disclosed to a RIA Novosti correspondent. According to him, "the 6th regular expedition on the ISS is commanded by the American side and we follow its orders and regulations".

In regard with the disease, the walk of the astronaut in the open space has been rescheduled from December to the second half of January 2003, Lyndin disclosed to a RIA Novosti correspondent.

"In December Russian astronaut Nikolai Budarin and Commander of the 6th ISS regular expedition, American astronaut Kenneth Bowersox were scheduled to walk in open space," Head of the TSUP press-service said. The astronauts had to carry out some maintenance work on the outer equipment, mounted on the outer surface of the station, Lyndin added.

However, according to him, "the work is not urgent and in accordance with the Russian side it has been postponed for approximately one month."