Space tourism around the corner
Thursday, 03 Jul 2008 11:36
The Russian federal space agency, Roskosmos, has signed a contract with an investor to develop a space tourism programme that could launch in 2011, the Itar-Tass news agency reports the Roskosmos website as stating.
"We have concluded an agreement with an investor to begin financing such a Soyuz vessel with an anticipated launch date of 2011," the website is quoted as saying.
US-based Space Adventures has already made a deal to use a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for transporting tourists to the International Space Station (ISS).
Roskosmos has refused to reveal whether the new investor is Space Adventures but the private company is negotiating with the agency to hire a seat on board ISS-bound flights.
Five space tourists have already visited the station with Space Adventures over the past few years, paying up to $25 million (£12.5 million) each to travel onboard Soyuz craft.
Another American, Owen Garriot, is set to travel to the ISS in October this year.