Special Report: Russian manned spaceship returns
    ISS crew lands safely on earth

    BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhuanet)-- Brazil's first astronaut's historic 10-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS) was met with both praise and criticism.

Brazilian astronaut Marcus Pontes walks out of the Soyuz capsule after landing near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan pre-dawn April 9, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

    Marcos Pontes, a 43-year-old Brazilian Air Force pilot, blasted into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket on March 29. 

    During the trip, Pontes has been featured daily on Brazilian TV news broadcasts and in newspaper pages. The Brazilian flag he waved in the capsule was seen as a symbol of pride to most Brazilians.

    In an interview with Brazilian media, he said that Brazilians will benefit from his historic trip to space. "Can you imagine how many young Brazilians will become motivated to learn about science and technology," he said. "Brazil has a lot to gain, not only now, in the future."

    But, while some in Brazil bickered about who should play Pontes in the movie version of his historic journey, others dismissed him as a "space tourist" manipulated by vote-hunting politicians.

    Controversy also raged among intellectuals and newspaper columnists as to the true scientific value of his trip, rumoured to have cost about 10 million U.S. dollars.

    "From everything that I have read until now, the journey of the first Brazilian astronaut does not have the slightest importance, except for the government. It's another marketing manoeuvre which might add a few little points to Lula's image before the elections in October," wrote one influential political blogger. Enditem

    (Agencies)