On the 25 April 2002 ESA Astronaut Roberto Vittori will be launched on board a Russian Soyuz vehicle to the International Space Station. The mission is codenamed 'Marco Polo' and during his 10 days in space Roberto Vittori will carry out a number of ESA and ASI experiments.
This is the second of two programme about the astronaut and his mission. It focuses on the four experiments that he will carry out during his eight days onboard the ISS.

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In July last year, Roberto Vittori, an ESA astronaut, was chosen as part of a team for a taxi-flight bound for the International Space Station later this month. Last August, Vittori took up his training as flight engineer at the Gargarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, near Moscow, in preparation for the Marco Polo Mission.
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Having logged nearly 2000 flying hours in over 40 different aircraft, Vittori, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Italian Air Force, has made flying his life. His notable flying skills have led him to test pilot training and it was this, which first ignited his ambition to become an astronaut.
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The 25th of this month will see Vittori, yet another Italian 'explorer', embarking on a new 'adventure'. This time, blasting off in a Russian Soyuz rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan for the 10 day Marco Polo Mission to the International Space Station, jointly organised by ESA and the Italian Space Agency ASI.
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It will be Vittori's fir