Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON STATE : ‘Friendship Rocket’ From Russia Lands

A Russian “friendship rocket” carrying religious icons and a toy stuffed dog splashed down off Washington state’s coast. Space Flight Europe-America 500 commemorated the International Year of Space and the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival in the Western Hemisphere. A Soyuz rocket carrying the capsule was launched a week ago from the once-secret Plesetsk space center near the northern Russian port of Archangel. The capsule orbited Earth 111 times and splashed down in the Pacific 199 miles southwest of Seattle, said the control center’s commander, Col. Anatoly Zapadinsky. In Seattle, officials planned receptions, art shows and folk song and dance performances. Hundreds of Russian sailors, dignitaries and others were expected.