A woman will replace the male candidate as the first Korean in space. Yi So-yeon (30) replaces Ko San (32) on a Russian spacecraft going to the worldly space station on April 8 after Ko twice violated training protocol. Several foreign astronauts have been replaced for health reasons at the 11th hour, but that is the first day a candidate has been replaced for breaching regulations. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology decided to form the switch at the inquiry of the Russian Space Agency. According to the ministry,

Russian authorities found Ko in breach in September and February. On one occasion Ko sent a mission training manual to Korea with his personal belongings. Russian authorities reportedly asked Korea to replace Ko on grounds that the slightest violation of rules in space can have disastrous consequences.

Ko will now serve as backup for Yi. The Soyuz rocket is scheduled for launch on April 8. On completion of their basic training on March 18, Yi and Ko will move to Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan on March 26.

Orginal post by