Russian cosmonauts imitate landing on Mars

Russian cosmonauts imitate landing on Mars — RT: "Almost nine months of isolation, training and preparation have finally paid off, as cosmonauts have “set foot” on the Red Planet for the first time.Italy’s Diego Urbina and Russia’s Aleksandr Smoleevsky have made their first steps on the Martian surface – at least virtually. They have taken samples of Martian soil and measured the magnetic field, as well as planted the flags of China, Russia and the European Space Agency.Mars 500 may be a simulated mission, with the planet's surface modeled in the Moscow Region, but the “space walk” was monitored by Russia's real mission control.

Russian, American, European and Japanese Astronauts Blast Off Into Space

FoxNews.com - Soyuz Crew Blasts Off Into Space: "Russia's Soyuz spacecraft blasted off on its latest mission, to deliver Russia, European, American and Japanese astronauts to the International Space Station.
The launch, which took place at 2:09 pm. EST from the Baikonur cosmodrome on the steppes of Kazakhstan, came despite worries about the re-entry module of the Soyuz craft, which was hastily replaced earlier this month after it was damaged during unloading at the remote Russian launch site.
Russia's Dmitry Kondratyev, NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman and the European Space Agency's Paolo Nespoli of Italy will spend five months at the space station, which has a full schedule for 2011, with the arrival of several cargo craft delivered by the U.S., Russian, European and Japanese space agencies.