Roskosmos postponed sending to the ISS the first citizen of Kazakhstan

Originally Kazakhstani flight was scheduled for late September 2009, and in Roskomose assured that Astana has already made all necessary payments. As reported in the National Space Agency of Kazakhstan, for this purpose has been allocated 900 million rubles. Nevertheless, in April it became known that due to financial difficulties, Kazakhstan still refused to participate in the mission to the ISS, and postponed the flight of his astronaut for an indefinite period.

Place Kazakh astronaut took space tourist — Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. On the morning of Oct. 11 he, together with members of the ISS crew Russians Gennady Padalka and American Michael Barratt landed safely on board the capsule of the manned Soyuz TMA-14 ".

Meanwhile, as reported by MSNBC, the new commander of the ISS instead Padalka was appointed Belgian Frank De Winne (Frank De Winne), which became the first European to head the station. It is expected that he will stay in that capacity until his return to earth on December 1.