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Tourist-Class Soyuz Spacecraft Seats Open

Posted by simoniker on from the lance-bass-wears-suit-to-get-upgrade dept.

brandido writes "Put another notch in the belt for space tourism - Space.com is reporting that: "If you're looking for the ultimate in get-up-and go, take note: Tourist-class seats will be available on a Soyuz spacecraft bound for the International Space Station in 2004-2005. This off-planet trek comes courtesy of a deal struck between Space Adventures, a U.S. adventure travel firm, Russia's RSC Energia and the Russian Space Agency (Rosoviakosmos)." However, NASA has yet to be officially notified or to give formal approval, so there are still some speed bumps in the road map."

4 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Re:NASA's approval? by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 5, Informative

    Forgive me if I ask something stupid, but why would this need NASA's approval?

    Because the International Space Station is just that - an international space station. NASA is one of the lead partners in the project and, as such, any missions/visits/whatever to the ISS must first be green stamped by NASA.

    It's a bit like a shared cabin in the country - you ask the permission of the other owners, as much out of courtesy as anything else, before you head down there for the weekend.

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
  2. FYI by parkanoid · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's "Rosaviakosmos", not "Rosoviakosmos".

  3. Re:Fsck NASA's approval by Mondoz · · Score: 5, Informative
    Or make more of it. Consider that one of the experiments on Columbia was to see if popcorn pops differently in space.

    Learn about what you're talking about before you speak.

    Congress determines what NASA will do. NASA has a charter created by the government that dictates what NASA can and can't do.

    Profiting falls neatly into the can't column.

    In fact, NASA is obligated by its charter to give away all the technology it develops. UV sunglasses, pacemakers, velcro, and hundreds of other major scientific breaktrhoughs are a result of NASA research. But NASA is prohibited from making money off of them. If Congress would let them, NASA would take over the world.

    --
    /sig
  4. Re:Fsck NASA's approval by Tekdemon · · Score: 5, Informative

    UV sunglasses, pacemakers, velcro, and hundreds of other major scientific breaktrhoughs are a result of NASA research. Umm...I know Americans are supposed to hate the French and all, but just because the Swiss invented Vel(our)Cro(chet) has a French name is no reason to use revisionist tactics on it =P (btw a French textile plant guy helped the Swiss inventer get Velcro to market when nobody believed him and thought he was nuts)