Posted: Wed, Sep 22, 2004, 1:56 PM ET (1756 GMT)
Russian space agency officials said Wednesday that the launch of a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station has been rescheduled for October 11, two days later than previously planned. The launch of the Soyuz TMA-5 was scheduled for October 9, but the Russian Federal Space Agency reported last week that the launch could be delayed after an explosive bolt in the spacecraft fired inadvertently during ground tests at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Officials said Wednesday the problem had been corrected, but the additional work pushed the launch date out to the 11th. The Soyuz spacecraft will carry the Expedition Ten crew of Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov, as well as guest cosmonaut Yuri Shargin, to the ISS. The delayed launch means that the return of the current Expedition Nine crew of Gennady Padalka and Michael Fincke, using the Soyuz spacecraft currently docked to the station, will also be delayed by two days.

Related Links:

•  Itar-Tass article
•  Reuters article
•  AFP article