Successful Mission to the International Space Station: First African in Space

The Marco Polo mission successfully delivered a new lifeboat to the ISS, marking a historic moment with the first African in space. The crew, consisting of Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori, Russian commander Yuri Gigenko, and South African Mark Shuttleworth, conducted scientific experiments during their stay. The mission attracted significant public interest, with notable figures engaging with the crew. The mission concluded with a safe return to Earth, and future European missions to the ISS are planned.

Which country was the launch site for the Marco Polo mission?

• Russia

• United States

• Kazakhstan

• China

What was one of the main focuses of the scientific experiments conducted by Roberto Vittori?

• Testing new propulsion systems

• Studying the effects of cosmic particles on humans

• Developing new space suits

• Exploring Mars

Who communicated with the Marco Polo crew from Brussels during their mission?

• NASA officials

• EC President Romano Prodi

• Russian space agency representatives

• Chinese astronauts

What is the European Space Agency's goal with missions like Marco Polo?

• To train astronauts for Mars missions

• To develop new space stations

• To explore the outer solar system

• To capitalize on favorable publicity

What is a unique feature of the Soyuz capsule's landing compared to American capsules?

• It uses parachutes for landing

• It lands in the ocean

• It has a soft landing system

• It lands on solid ground