Astronaut training in parabolic flight - Astronaut training in zero - G - Astronaut Andre...

Astronaut training in parabolic flight - Astronaut training in zero - G - Astronaut Andre Kuipers is training in weightlessness aboard a Russian plane in the Star City, in preparation for his stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2004. ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers, from The Netherlands, enjoys weightlessness inside a Russian aircraft performing a parabolic flight at the Gagarin Training Center, also known as Zviezdny Gorodok (“Star City”), near Moscow, as part of his preparation for the DELTA mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2004. Andre Kuipers was launched into space onboard Soyuz TMA - 4 on April 19 with Russian mission commander Gennady Padalka and NASA astronaut Michael Fincke. The spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS two days later. Andre Kuipers then spent eight and a half days onboard the orbital outpost and carried out an extensive experiment programme in the fields of life sciences including physiology, biology and microbiology. His programme also included some physical science, Earth observation and technology experiments as well as education activities. He returned to Earth on April 30 onboard Soyuz TMA - 3 with the former ISS permanent crew, Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Kaleri and British - born NASA astronaut Michael Foale, who were replaced by Padalka and Fincke