The government says the spacecraft carrying the nation's first astronaut has successfully passed into space above the South Atlantic Ocean as of nine a.m. Wednesday.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute say the Soyuz TMA-12, currently separated from its third stage projectile, is orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes on its own power.

After circling the planet about 33 times over a two-day period, Soyuz will dock at the International Space Station at ten p.m. Thursday, Korean time. It will then be about 350 kilometers above the Earth.

After docking, Soyuz will open a wireless link with Russia's Mission Control Center on the ground and conduct scientific experiments via video link with the center.

A Korea Aerospace Research Institute official said Soyuz is gradually rising in orbit as it circles the Earth. He added that communication is possible five to six times a day for five to ten minutes each time when Soyuz passes above the control center in Moscow.