Space Tourism
Russia and Space Adventures looking for new space tourist
A vacated space aboard the Soyuz space capsule may allow another space tourist to travel to the International Space Station in September, the Russian Federal Space Agency says. Space Adventures is selecting candidates for the flight.
It was earlier reported that Charles Simonyi’s flight to the ISS in April may be the last commercial space travel for a long time but, since Kazakhstan pulled its cosmonaut out of the next expedition, there may be a free seat aboard Soyuz TMA 16, heading for the ISS in September.
“The new expedition member may be a professional Russian cosmonaut or a space tourist,” Vitaly Davydov, deputy head of the Roscosmos space corporation was quoted by Rosbalt news agency as saying Friday. “We are pressed for time, and by early May we have to make the decision.”
Davydov says Roscosmos has contacted Space Adventures, and the company is urgently looking for candidates for the flight.
However, he said, it was unlikely that Space Adventures would again propose Japanese businessman Daisuke Enomoto for the flight. Enomoto was found unfit to fly to ISS in 2006 for medical reasons, although doctors said his health may allow him to fly next time.
Davydov added that Roskosmos may propose Russian MP Gruzdev for the trip, “if he is ready.”
So far, Space Adventures and the Russian space agencies have sent to the ISS six private space explorers: Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth, Gregory Olsen, Anousheh Ansari, Richard Garriot and Charles Simonyi.
Comments
Daisuke should definitely get to fly, since Space Adventures kept his ticket money (over $20 million) and refused to return it. Anousheh Ansari got to fly in his place, and invested lots of money in Space Advntures. Did Space Adventures collet twice for the same seat on the Soyuz? And was it the decision of Russia to scrap Enomoto, or was it the executives and board members at Space Advnturess? (Both Richard Garriott and Owen Garriot are on the board of directors, and Richard claims that he started the business in the first place.)
Enomoto is suing for a refund from Space Adventures in US Federal Court in Virginia.
Daisuke should definitely get to fly, since Space Adventures kept his ticket money (over $20 million) and refused to return it. Anousheh Ansari got to fly in his place, and invested lots of money in Space Advntures. Did Space Adventures collet twice for the same seat on the Soyuz? And was it the decision of Russia to scrap Enomoto, or was it the executives and board members at Space Advnturess? (Both Richard Garriott and Owen Garriot are on the board of directors, and Richard claims that he started the business in the first place.)
Enomoto is suing for a refund from Space Adventures in US Federal Court in Virginia.
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