Russian Manned Spacecraft Soyuz TM-33 Successfully Launched From Baikonur Launch Site

At 1:00 p.m., Moscow time, Sunday, the Russian manned Soyuz TM-33 spacecraft with an international crew onboard was successfully launched from the Baikonur launch site. The crew comprised the Russian spacecraft commander Viktov Afanasyev, Russian flight engineer Konstantin Kozeyev, and French astronaut and researcher Claudie Andre-Haignere. The main goal of the mission is to deliver to the International Space Station (ISS) the Soyuz TM-33 spacecraft and replace Soyuz TM-32, which is currently on the ISS and has already exhausted its technical potential. In addition to replacing the spacecraft, the crew will also carry out a series of scientific experiments. In particular, the French astronaut, doctor by training, will conduct medical- biological research onboard the ISS. According to the mission's schedule, the crew that has been lift off today will stay at the ISS until October 31. It will return to Earth in Soyuz TM-32.