The Russian space agency has sealed a deal with a private investor to build a Soyuz spacecraft specially for tourist hire to be operational in 2011.
“We have concluded an agreement with an investor to begin financing such a Soyuz vessel with an anticipated launch date of 2011,” a statement on the Roskosmos website stated.
The craft, piloted by a professional astronaut, is designed to carry two so-called space adventurers.
A Roskosmos spokesman refused to identify the investor despite the agency having signed a deal in June with private American company Space Adventures for a commercial flight to the International Space Station.
Set up in 2001, Space Adventures has already sent five tourists into space on board a Soyuz.
The firm has been in negotiations with Roskosmos to rent the third seat on board a ship which regularly ferries Russian and American astronauts to the ISS.
American Dennis Tito, South African Mark Shuttleworth, Greg Olsen of the United States, Iranian-born Anousheh Ansari and Hungarian-born Charles Simonyi are the five who have each paid up to $US25 million ($26 million) for the thrill of a lifetime.
The next independent space traveller is Richard Garriott, an American electronic games entrepreneur and son of former astronaut Owen Garriott.
His flight is due to take off in October.
news.com.au
