Russians train US astronaut

Moscow - Russian space officials yesterday began training US astronaut David Wolf for spacewalks outside the crippled Mir space station after he was abruptly told to stand in for the next mission.On Wednesday, Ms Wendy Lawrence, the US astronaut originally intended to join Mir next month, told a news conference she was eager to fly. Hours later, NASA officials said they had decided to send her back-up, Mr Wolf.NASA said Ms Lawrence did not fit into the Russian spacesuit and so could not perform spacewalks whereas Mr Wolf (40), a medical doctor and inventor, could. Russian space officials quickly devised a rigorous training programme to familiarise him with their suit and spacewalk procedures. - (Reuter)