2nd Space Tourist To Visit ISS In April 2002

Anonymous Coward writes "Another continent is represented in space: It has just been announced that Thawte founder Mark Shuttleworth is in the final stages of securing a seat on the next Soyuz launch in April. Press Release says he plans to do a lot of Science up there, with a whole bundle of other stuff. SpaceDaily seems to have broken it first of the commercial news, haven't seen it anywhere else yet. Go, Africa, Go! (Oh, and he reads Slashdot religiously ... Good Luck Mark!)" Looks like it's getting cheaper, too. I think it's time for a Slashdot staff meeting in space...

Comments

Wait for this to be verified, then...

[twilight30]

see if he'll agree to a Slashdot interview.

But wait first.

Re:Wait for this to be verified, then...

[reg]

If you can't wait, then here's a recent online chat with him, from a South African TV show.

Regards,
-Jeremy

Slashdot meeting in space?

[Exmet Paff Daxx]

What would the Slashdot team do in Space that they couldn't do here on earth?

Learn to spell?

Through Haggling, Space

[patiwat]

Shuttleworth had to go through a lot of haggling to get into space. For one, he had to cut back on his original plan of staying two weeks to only ten days. There were also difficulties in resolving what would happen if Soyuz failed to dock with the ISS - would he get a free repeat flight or not? In addition, Shuttleworth insists on being the first African in space - however, South Africa isn't part of the ISS consortium.

The difficulties appear to have been resolved though, and through the magnificent power of over $20 million, a just about anyone can get into space.

But please, don't by claim that now we have "geeks in space" - the original Gemini, Mercury, and Apollo astronauts were the original ueber-geeks, and their hacks saved many missions from failure.

Re:Through Haggling, Space

[Siener]

The difficulties appear to have been resolved though, and through the magnificent power of over $20 million, a just about anyone can get into space.

True, almost. To avoid the problems that Dennis Tito had with NASA (he's a safety risk because of lack of training etc.), Mark went through a much more rigorous and thorough training program. It has been reported that he could in fact be considered as a fully trained cosmonaut.

Also, this will not be a purely recreational trip. He's hoping to make the trip pay for itself by conducting some experiments in space that could later have some commercial value.

There also seems to be some confusion here at /. about the "Go, Africa go" bit in the post. Mark Shuttleworth is a South African. So am I, so : "Go, Mark go"

i propose to do some "science"

[trance9]

I volunteer to go up into space and conduct a scientific experiment to determine whether a 2 week vacation in space increases or decreases the productivity of an opensource programmer upon return to earth.

The favoritism runs rampant

[dfeldman]

Space, like so many other industries and programs throughout the years, has seen tremendous advances in technology, accomplishments, and workforce skill. It is often speculated that eventually many people will live for years, or forever, on other planets or in human-friendly space stations. This helps ease overcrowding of Earth, and helps people experience new living environments.

However, it seems as though most nations' space programs don't feel the same way about that egalitarian vision. They don't think space is the final frontier for everyday citizens; they don't want space travel to become commoditized. NASA, and now the Russian space agency, want to use space as a perk to sell to very wealthy businessmen. They want money, influence with politicians, or both. Regardless, these agencies are using taxpayer money to pamper the rich, and it is high time to stop this abuse.

Mind you, I am not against rich people. My brother has a net worth of over three million dollars. I am simply against letting the government use its considerable power to reward those who have already been rewarded by the capitalist system. Why reward people twice for the same deed? I don't win an award or see the government kissing my behind every time I collect a paycheck. Why should really rich guys be any different?

Astronauts are hired because of their physical strength and courage, their technical abilities, and their personalities. They should not be selected on the basis of their bank account balances. We should work toward letting astronauts do their jobs, without interference from wealthy joy-riders who feel like they have to ride into space before they die, just because they can.

df

Re:The favoritism runs rampant

[Omnifarious]

Indulging a few rich people their fancy is the ticket for travel to space to become affordable. We don't try to get people into space much now because no profit can be made doing it. If a profit can be made doing it, there will be strong financial incentive to do it more and more cheaply, and eventually it probably won't cost too much more than a transcontinental airline flight.

That's the logic that's driven the semiconductor revolution to incredible advances in speed and minaturization. Mark up your advanced products, and sell them to rich people who want them, use the money to design the next batch to be better and cheaper.

Dont let Katz go

[MisterBlister]

If you do shuttle up the slashdot folk, don't let Katz go. The last thing I need to hear is him whining about the corporatization of space, or how the 'jock' astronauts bully the poor geek space tourists, or how difficult is is to find a TV station airing buffy the vampire slayer up there.

Re:Dont let Katz go

[Moonshadow]

Actually, I was going to suggest that he be the only one to go.

Just with a one-way ticket.

Re:This isn't about making space profitable.

[Supa Mentat]

First a disclaimer, I am an American, not a Russian, these are just the facts as I have come to know them. First off, Russia spent a shitload of money on ISS, not as much as us but it was a significant contributor, I think second overall as far as money spent goes. Secondly, if it hadn't been for the knowhow that the Russians acquired with Mir ISS wouldn't have gotten off of the ground, their biggest contribution by far was the technical knowledge and experiance they brought to the table. Back to money though. What money Russia did spend it really didn't have, the Russian government is in economic straits and space gains them nothing in the short term. So they figured out a way to recoup some of their losses, Tito. He never even touched the American side of the station so Americans (including me) have no right to bitch about it. The Russians have gotten plenty of science done in space, more than us actually because for the longest time we didn't have a station and they had Mir. In conclusion, don't sell the Russians short. Their contributions to the ISS have been substantial and if they need a way to subsidize their part of the station and they can do it than I say more power to them. Neither Americans nor Russians are being kept out of the station because of these extra visitors, so don't worry about it.

hehehe! geeks in space!

[mr_gerbik]

hehehe! geeks in space! hohoho! hahaha! lets say it again and maybe it will be funny this time!

if the slashdot team ever had a meeting in space, i would surely try my best to depressurize their capsule and watch everyone explode.

Re:This isn't about making space profitable.

[reg]

I think you need to look a lot more carefully at Mark Shuttleworth. While his motives aren't altruistic (if I was an unemployed, ex .com'er, and had $575mil in my pocket, I'd also be going into space), he nearly didn't get to go because he insisted on being allowed to conduct scientific experiments, and held a competition in South Africa to find the best experients. NASA's primary complaint is that they didn't want him doing experiements... It was OK if he just sat there and enjoyed the view.

I'd hardly call his trip wasting the precious US investment (which would have been a lot less if the Russians had built it, because they don't squander money like NASA).

Regards,
-Jeremy

Re:I'm just not in the know...

[brshuttleworth]

Or, alternatively, you haven't read some interviews with him :) from a web-chat he had after a Carte Blanche interview:

Mark Shuttleworth: Of course! The Net is still on course to become the fundamental platform for all communications... from your cellphone to your fridge, they will all talk TCP/IP. But the net makes competition brutal, so expect to work hard for those profits. The mistake was in thinking that something that removed all barriers to entry could also be a source of infinite profitability! I don't think we'll see any new Yahoo! or E-Bay emerge, but we'll see great new ideas like slashdot.org that find a place for themselves, driven by people who love what they are doing and do it better than anybody else as a result, using the net to reach their listeners at the lowest possible cost.

Mark In Space

[geltoob]

Since the Mark is going by way of Soyuz, what is a trip on the Shuttleworth?

Re:Why is this news?

[freeweed]

Why? Well, seeing as this is only the second civilian/paying customer/whatever to go into space in the history of human space exploration, I'd say it's pretty important.

Isn't the eventual goal to have "average Joes" go to space?

Yes, and considering NO average Joes will go until a LOT of rich folks do (think cars, airplanes, etc, etc, etc)... I'd say it is NOT going to happen overnight.

Incorrect Story

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the story subitted is incorrect. This will be the third space tourist. The first space tourist was way back in October 29 1998 The second was on 30 April 2001 So this should definately be the thrid right?

Research

[HavingToLoginSucks]

I'm really curious about what type of scientific research he intends to pursue while up there. Does anyone know what his scientific interests are? Anyone have any idea what experiments he intends to perform? Anyone gotta link or literature ref (CS research may be online, but the rest of science is laggin a little)? A curious chemist

Interview with Mark Shuttleworth

[Siener]

Here is an interesting interview with Mark Shuttleworth.

A few quotes :

"I realise that I'm not going on a joyride, this is not just a question of getting into space. We are kick-starting an African space programme. It is not good enough to simply take Russian experiments; we must give South African scientists an opportunity."

"Of course there is a personal reward, but at the same time the trip will do a tremendous amount for South Africa in the international arena. Also the money I'm spending on this project is not disappropriate to the money I have already spent on other people and that I gave away."

'Nonsense' right back a'cha

[Dirk Pitt]

C'mon. I get so tired of these 'America is so self-centric and aggressive' posts that automatically get modded up.

Firstly, the USA is commonly referred to as 'America' because it is, to the best of my knowledge, the only country on these two continents that includes the word 'America' in its title. People would quickly grow tired of calling us "United States of Americans" or "YouEssAyans" instead of just "Amercians". This is the only descriptor I've run across, in my fairly wide travels anyway, for people from these United States. All of the Australians, Brits, Chinese, and Japanese I know refer to the American continents as "The Americas", and would never assume that 'America' includes countries north and south.

Secondly, oh yes, our 'predilection towards violence' and aggression is so unique in the world. The countries of Africa, Asia and Europe are just flower carrying peace lovers compared to America. Every country has their violent little toys, and likes to use them. Just because America can afford the most and the best right now doesn't make them any worse or better than any country of the often parental 1st world on down.

When will everyone be there

[ackthpt]

Yes, and considering NO average Joes will go until a LOT of rich folks do (think cars, airplanes, etc, etc, etc)... I'd say it is NOT going to happen overnight.

And when it does happen, we can look forward to:

The first Domino's Pizza delivery in space, "Hey, the toppings are stuck to the top of the box!"

_Real_ scien-terrific 'spiriments, "Oh, man, he puked and it came straight out!"

Mothers equiped with instant cameras will line everyone up for a group picture over the Grand Canyon.

New anti-gravity sports leagues will be developed.

and inevitably, the below-average Joe's will arrive to make space totally egalitarian...

Rednecks in space -- "Dang! I haid th' gol-dang yard all fixed up with space junk and them nassa varmints are tryin't swipe it again. Maw! Git muh laser arn! Ahm agonna blast 'em."

Civilians in space

[soundlord]

one important thing to note is that if Christa McAuliffe, a civilian teacher, hadn't died aboard Challenger in 1986, the idea of civilians in space probably wouldn't be as big a deal as it is now. More civilians would have likely boarded shuttles during the following years, and gradually the civilian population would have become more comfortable with the idea of having civilians in space. When this happened, the average person would feel that space was within his or her grasp, and the space program would have experienced more interest and increased financial support.

the Russians, perhaps without meaning to, are again getting average people comfortable with the idea of civilians in space, which might not be such a bad thing - they don't have the stigma of the Challenger tragedy to deal with, and their efforts might foster increased interest in space programs here in the States.