"The launch of the Soyuz carrier with the Foton-M craft is scheduled for May 31. Launching it is important because many states are involved. Preparations began long ago and it cannot be put off. But, four bugs have sprung up. The plans allow no delay," chief of the Russian Space Agency Anatoly Perminov said.
The unmanned Foton-M is an orbital research laboratory. During two weeks of flight it will stage unique Russian and foreign experiments, such as the production of drugs to treat AIDS and cancer. The biological specimens and equipment will be brought to Baikonur by a special charter from The Netherlands on May 26.
European specialists are involved in this project. The first Foton craft failed when launched from the Plesetsk space center (south of the Arkhangelsk region in the north of European Russia) in October 2002.
