Extracts taken from the European Space Agency's  latest press release
dated the 19th of April 2001 & titled,  Guidoni makes history as first
European on Space Station:

Europe today sent its first astronaut to the International Space 
Station when Space Shuttle Endeavour and its seven-strong crew lifted 
off from Kennedy Space Center at 14:41 local time (20:41 Central 
European Summer Time).

Italian ESA astronaut, Umberto Guidoni (46) and his six colleagues 
left a pleasant spring afternoon in Florida behind them at the start 
of a two-day journey which will see them docking with the Station 
some 260 km above the Earth's surface on 21 April. 

The 11-day STS-100 mission is the ninth Shuttle visit to the 
International Space Station and will involve at least two space 
walks. The main payloads are the Italian-built Raffaello multi-
purpose pressurised logistics module (MPLM) and Canada's giant 
robotic arm. Both are crucial elements in the ongoing construction of 
the Space Station and the initiation of scientific experimental work. 
A UHF antenna, for in-orbit communications during space walks, is 
also on board.

As of today the special ESA web site http://www.esa.int/guidoni is 
active. This site will be available throughout the mission and will 
offer video material and background information on the STS-100 
mission and the International Space Station. The site can also be 
used to send e-mails to Umberto Guidoni at the Station. A selection 
of incoming e-mails will be uplinked daily to him and if a question 
is selected for transmission the sender will get an answer direct 
from space on their PC. The selected questions and answers will also 
be published on the web. E-mail Umberto Guidoni at: 
astrocontact@esa.int

The International Space Station, the biggest habitable structure ever 
built in space, is being constructed jointly by the world's major 
space powers: the United States, Europe (represented by the European 
Space Agency), Russia, Canada and Japan. It will eventually house a 
unique research facility in space, generating scientific information 
and technology that will improve the lives of future generations. It 
will also provide unique opportunities for industrial and commercial 
applications.