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Russian Soyuz Spacecraft Blasts Off
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=1400461:A6F02AD83191E16009299E8F748E2CA19574F7DCC14957C0 Soyuz blasted off,
right on schedule, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying a Russian
cosmonaut and two Americans to the space station





U.S. entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari, left, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail
Tyurin, center, and U.S. astronaut Miguel Lopez-Alegria wave just
before the launch of the Soyuz TMA-9 spaceship at the Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Monday, Sept. 18, 2006It was a
picture-perfect launch into the clear blue skies of Central Asia. A
Russian Soyuz spacecraft is now heading for the International Space
Station, with three space travelers on board. They include the world's
first female space tourist - an Iranian-American woman.

The Soyuz blasted off, right on schedule, from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome, carrying a Russian cosmonaut and two Americans to the
space station.

American astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail
Tyurin are to spend the next six months on the station, as part of the
normal crew rotation.

The third person heading into space is Anousheh Ansari, who grew up in
Iran but has lived for many years in the United States.

The first woman to pay for her trip into the heavens, Ansari says her
chance to go to space is a dream come true. She says she hopes her
trip will provide inspiration to young people around the world.

"I'm happy that not only my flight but the life I've lived, so far,
becomes an inspiration for our youth - especially to girls and women
around the world," she said. "Looking at my background they can see
that sometimes the impossible can be possible, and dreams can come
true."

Ansari will spend eight days on the station, conducting experiments
and preparing materials for educational use back on earth. She
formerly ran a telecommunications company with her husband. She now
works to promote efforts to make private space travel more accessible.

Ansari says she still feels close to the Iranian people and is wearing
patches of both Iran and the United States on her space suit.

The Soyuz is scheduled to arrive at the space station just days after
the American space shuttle Atlantis left.


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