First Brazilian Astronaut Arrives Safely

Brazilian’s first astronaut 43 year old air force office Marcos Pontes has returned to Earth after his 11 day trip to the International Space Station. His capsule landed in northwest Kazakhstan at 2348 GMT Saturday along with US astronaut William MacArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev. They were greeted with smiles and cups of hot tea to warm them in the 17.6 F (-8C) weather and then taken to medical tents for a quick check.

Pontes conducted eight scientific experiments while on the ISS which some people say including Ennio Candotti, president of the Brazzilian Society for the Progress Science was completely a waste of time and Pontes was merely a space tourist. The estimated cost the Ponte’s flight was $10.5 million USD and many believe that the money would be better spent on research and reconstructing a space base that was destroyed after a explosion in 2003. The Brazilian Space Agency does not agree they believe that the flight will help heighten the awareness of space research and increase their budget.

“Our stars were fortuitous. Undoubtedly he will receive an award from the government, but his biggest award will be in the hearts of all Brazilians,” said one Brazilian official.

Brazilian’s first astronaut 43 year old air force office Marcos Pontes has returned to Earth after his 11 day trip to the International Space Station. His capsule landed in northwest Kazakhstan at 2348 GMT Saturday along with US astronaut William MacArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev. They were greeted with smiles and cups of hot tea to warm them in the 17.6 F (-8C) weather and then taken to medical tents for a quick check.

Pontes conducted eight scientific experiments while on the ISS which some people say including Ennio Candotti, president of the Brazzilian Society for the Progress Science was completely a waste of time and Pontes was merely a space tourist. The estimated cost the Ponte’s flight was $10.5 million USD and many believe that the money would be better spent on research and reconstructing a space base that was destroyed after a explosion in 2003. The Brazilian Space Agency does not agree they believe that the flight will help heighten the awareness of space research and increase their budget.

“Our stars were fortuitous. Undoubtedly he will receive an award from the government, but his biggest award will be in the hearts of all Brazilians,” said one Brazilian official.