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By installing several crucial systems, the 2001 missions to the International Space Station (ISS) consolidated its future success. The Quest module provides a capability to perform “space walks” (EVA’s) from the ISS and has a unique feature - it can support both the US and Russian space suits. Another milestone was reached when the ISS’s new robotic arm was installed, which was of critical importance for the continued assembly of the ISS.

ICARE – The FAI Astronautic Records Commission, whose members represent all three space agencies, American, European and Russian, met on April 19th in Lausanne to honor the crews who contributed last year to the future success of the International Space Station. Dr Segismundo Sanz Fernandez de Cordoba, ICARE President, announced the following awards : the crews of STS-98 and STS-104 will receive the Vladimir Komarov Diplomas; the 2nd and 3rd crews to live aboard the ISS will be honored with the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal.

The experts then continued their investigations into the rules according to which future record attempts in suborbital flight will be ratified. In 1996, the X-Prize Foundation launched a competition to jump-start the space tourism industry. A $10 million cash prize will be awarded to the first team that privately finances, builds and launches a spaceship able to carry 3 crew to an altitude of 100 kilometres, return safely to Earth and repeat the launch with the same ship within 2 weeks. Twenty teams are presently working on this project and the first attempts should take place in 2003 (www.xprize.org).

At the end of the meeting, the NASA representative Mr Michael Collins, announced that the population of Lausanne, the Olympic Capital where the FAI Headquarter has been established since 1998, would have the opportunity to track the spacecraft flying over the city. The NASA Website www.spaceflight.nasa.gov, where the space enthusiast can get much information about past, present and future space missions, also provides details about the dates and times at which spacecraft like the ISS and the Space Shuttle fly over the city.

Lausanne, April 29th , 2002

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A delegation from FAI, the World Air Sports Federation, led by FAI President, Mr. Wolfgang Weinreich, was received in Beijing on 17th April 2002 by Mr. Duan Shijie, Vice President of the Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

The FAI delegation had been invited to China to present the case for the inclusion of parachuting and skydiving events on the 2008 Olympic programme in conjunction with the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), whose President, Mr Wang Baoliang, is also a Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee. The delegation was hosted throughout their visit by ASFC Vice President Mr Zhao Mingyu.

The FAI delegation’s other members were the President of the International Parachuting Commission, Mr B.J. Worth (USA), a former three-times World Champion and parachuting TV and film director, and Mr Max Bishop, the Secretary General of FAI, the Lausanne-based World Air Sports Federation. During an hour-long meeting, they presented the sport of parachuting to Mr. Duan Shijie, using spectacular video images of the highly successful 2001 Akita World Games skydiving event.

The “China Sports Daily” of April 18th reported that Mr Duan Shijie “highly appreciated all FAI’s efforts” and that he “had a favourable understanding for FAI’s promoting parachuting in the Olympic Games.” According to the newspaper, Mr Duan Shijie said that “…since entering FAI in 1978, China has achieved 22 world champions in air sports. Air sports have a special value to society, human development and human quality, and that’s why Chinese people are enthusiastic about air sports.”

IOC and FAI Presidents meet in Lausanne

On returning from China, FAI President Wolfgang Weinreich went immediately to the Olympic Capital, Lausanne, for a meeting on April 19th with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Dr. Jacques Rogge. Pointing out that the Olympic Games programme contained sports on water, and sports on land, but no sports in the air, Mr. Weinreich urged that the IOC should make the 2008 Olympics in Beijing the first aerial Olympics : “The Olympic motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (‘Swifter, Higher, Stronger’) is a very noble one” said Mr. Weinreich, “but until at least one air sport is included in the Games, ‘Altius’ remains a dream.”

Also present at the Lausanne meeting, IOC Sports Director Gilbert Felli confirmed that parachuting was amongst the recognised sports being evaluated by the IOC Programme Commission for possible inclusion in the Games, and that a recommendation concerning the content of the 2008 programme would be made to the IOC Executive Board later this year.

In the meantime, FAI is continuing its efforts to demonstrate to the IOC that parachuting is a highly athletic sport, spectacular both on TV and for spectators, attractive to young people, and not very demanding as regards length of contest, number of competitors and requirements for infrastructure.

Lausanne, April 23rd, 2002

Pictures available : Welcome (144 Ko) / Talks (82 Ko) / Dinner (161 Ko)

An International Aviation Film Festival will be held in Prague from May 23 till May 26, 2002. During four days, visitors will have an opportunity to see a number of feature films and documentaries.

A "National Aviation" section will feature one particular country every year, focusing on those countries that are considered exotic from a European point of view, and whose history and contribution to the aviation industry is worth mentioning.

More information is available at http://www.aviationfilms.cz/