1.   A German astronaut and four Russian cosmonauts were also in Earth orbit aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule and the Mir space station Thursday.

2.   The Russians are scheduled to be replaced by a new crew in early February when a Soyuz spacecraft arrives carrying two Russian astronauts and one German astronaut.

3.   A German astronaut has become the first foreigner to gain the right to pilot a Russian spaceship, the European Space Agency announced Tuesday.

4.   German astronaut Thomas Reiter of the European Space Agency is presently orbiting the Earth aboard the station, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergei Avdeyev and Yuri Gidzenko.

5.   German astronaut Ulf Merbold was flown on the first Europeace mission to the Mir last year.

6.   In February, it was detached to allow a Soyuz spacecraft bringing two Russian cosmonauts and a German astronaut to dock.

7.   In February, it was separated from the Mir to make way for a Soyuz spacecraft bringing two Russian cosmonauts and a German astronaut to Mir.

8.   In February, it was separated from the Mir to allow a Soyuz spacecraft bringing two Russian cosmonauts and a German astronaut to dock.

9.   Luton did not say why the agency picked the German astronaut over the Swede.

10.   Russia and Germany plan to finalize plans this month for the next flight of a German astronaut to the Russian space station Mir, an official said Wednesday.