European Radio Amateur prepares to command ISS

Frank De Winne, Amateur Radio callsign ON1DWN, is set to become the first ESA Astronuat to command the International Space Station (ISS).

A BBC News report posted May 7 says:

"Next week, he will leave Russia's cosmonaut training centre outside of Moscow and fly to neighbouring Kazakhstan, where a Soyuz rocket is being prepared to carry him and two crewmates to the International Space Station."

The launch is currently scheduled for May 27 and after four months in orbit Frank, ON1DWN, will take over as commander.

Read the full BBC News story 'European prepares to command ISS' at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8037431.stm

See also Southgate news November 2008 - Belgian radio ham set to command space station http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2008/
frank_de_winne.htm