Brazil's first astronaut blasted off into space today with a Russian-US crew bound for the orbiting International Space Station.
The ISS-13 crew including US astronaut Jeffrey Williams (top), Brazil's first astronaut, Marcos Pontes (C), and Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov. Photo: REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
Marcos Pontes (43), a Brazilian Air Force pilot, took off with Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov and US astronaut Jeffrey Williams, both of whom were starting a six-month rotation in space.
Mr Pontes, who packed a Brazilian soccer team shirt, returns to earth in 10 days with the outgoing crew, American Bill McArthur and Russian Valery Tokarev.
The Soyuzis scheduled to dock in two days' time.
Russian space officials said the launch went smoothly although there had been a slight hitch with the telemetry - the data feed from the spacecraft to mission control.
Sergio Gaudenzi, president of the Brazilian Space Agency, said Mr Pontes had taken several experiments with him, including one designed by 12- and 13-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren to study the effects of weightlessness on plant germination.
Mr Gaudenzi also revealed the identity of the national soccer player whose shirt is orbiting the planet. "I think it was probably Ronaldinho's shirt," he said.