ORMARA LAUNCH FACILITY - After a minor scandal forced the selection of a new Ğarçığar (cosmonaut) to replace Talğat Sopu Bek-ulı, and then several last-minute technical issues delayed the planned early January launch still further, SpaceOrg's first manned space flight took off this morning.
The Qavoşğar ("Explorer") space capsule, atop a Mıtra rocket with a full complement of six strap-on boosters, lifted off at 09:47 local time, carrying the Qazaqstani Ğarçığar Sergei Jandosov into low Earth orbit.  The lift-off proceeded without a noticeable hitch, and orbit was achieved, making the half-Russian half-Qazaq Sergey Ağa the first SpaceOrg cosmonaut to orbit the Earth.
Cheers greeted the announcement that orbit had been achieved here at Mission Control, though the difficulties of successful re-entry still remained.
After what Mission Control here in Ormara deemed a successful mission, the Qavoşğar capsule re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down in the Indian Ocean.  A vessel of the Moghul Royal Navy recovered the capsule  with Captain Jandosov on board, and is expected to return him to Ormara later this week.
Captain Jandosov will fly from Ormara to the capitals of the four members of the SpaceOrg alliance for celebratory parades and honours.  Beginning in Herat, then progressing through Tehran and Buxara and finishing in his home town, the Qazaq capital Qarağanda.