Briton's third space mission "in doubt"

A British-born astronaut's next venture into space ia thought to be in doubt as a result of the Columbia shuttle disaster.

Michael Foale, 46, who now lives in the United States, is due to command a mission to the international space station in July.

But Mr Foale's father, Colin, 72, a former pilot and retired air commodore who lives in Cambridge, today said that the mission had to be in doubt.

"We don't know what will happen," said Colin Foale today. "I suppose if they find out what went wrong quickly it is possible that Michael's mission will go ahead but I would have thought it must be in doubt.

"Michael is in Russia training for the mission at the moment.

"He will be going back to America fairly soon although I don't believe he will be involved in the investigation into the shuttle disaster.

"I haven't spoken to him about the accident, although I will probably speak to him before long."

Michael Foale became the second Briton to journey into space when he flew in 1992. He went on a further, to work on the Mir space station, mission in 1997.

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