The 12 astronauts circling the Earth received a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI in the first ever papal call to space.

Pope Benedict XVI is to make satellite contact with two Italian astronauts on board the International Space Station in what will be the first papal call to space.

Doctor Scott can take the step up from maiden company to Listed class in his stride with victory in the Weatherbys Bank Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury tomorrow.

A Russian space capsule carrying an Italian, a Russian and an American hurtled safely home to Earth from the International Space Station today, landing softly on the marshy Central Asian steppes in the early-morning darkness.