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Another Space Tourist For Russia

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wish-they-issued-coupons dept.

Michael Wallis writes: "Just saw a story on AllNews.ru (in English) announcing South African Internet millionaire Mark Shuttleworth is in training to be the second space tourist. This just two days after the head of the Russian space program said in Quebec that there would be no more tourists to ISS until 2006. Guess Mark will just fly a Soyez to orbit for a few days."

6 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. Shuttleworth was a Debian user or developer by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 3
    Back when Thawte was new, Shuttleworth used Debian and might also have been a Debian developer. I remember corresponding with him via email.

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  2. Re:How long will training take? by SpinyNorman · · Score: 3

    You don't have to learn to fly a 747 to be a passenger in one, so why should a space tourist be any different? Obvuiously the risk level is different, but assuming he's signed appropriate waivers, then all they need to be assured of is that he isn't a whacko and wouldn't freak out in an emergency and endanger the other astronauts... which come to think of it is rather hard to guarantee if you don't have the military/astronaut discipline background...

  3. Honestly, you guys... by Gordonjcp · · Score: 4

    ... you kill me.
    First you complain because the Russians ask for more money, then you complain because they try to raise it themselves.
    Are you never satisfied?

  4. Historical point by shokk · · Score: 3

    I have no problem with this if the Russians are just scooting him up in one of their Soyuz capsules. They have plenty of those rockets and they need the $$$.

    Just wondering, though, if back in the days of the Wright brothers whether there was a hoopla about tourists going up in the skies. These days that makes up a very large portion of the aviation industry. We can expect the same of the space industry once launches past earth orbit become routine.

    --
    "Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
  5. No point in anyone posting anymore.... by cbr372 · · Score: 5
    I will summarize all of the posts here:

    1. Shuttleworth is a good name for someone going into space. Ha ha ha!!!

    2. Africans should concentrate on more important things, like food and education.

    3. It's important for the Russians to get funding SOME WAY - and if this is it, then by Joe, it's a good thing.

    4. This isn't news for nerds!!

    5. This is old news - it should be called Olds for Nerds.


    Cedric Balthazar Rotherwood
    Sun Certified Programmer for the Java Platform +
    --
    Cedric Balthazar Rotherwood
    Sun Certified Programmer for the Java Platform +
    System Admin. for Solaris
  6. Mark Shuttleworth is the founder of Thawte by phr1 · · Score: 4

    Thawte Consulting is of course the certificate authority that started out in Mark's condo, that offered a lower cost alternative to Verisign. It was bought by Verisign a year or so ago for a stupendous amount of money at the height of the dotcom balloon. So that's where the cash for the space trip came from, and now we know what Mark is doing with the cash! Wow!