The invitation to swap his suit and tie for a spacesuit came from the Russian commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Pavel Vinogradov, in a live link-up with Putin in the Kremlin.

"We invite you to be a guest," Vinogradov said, RIA-Novosti news agency reported. "You have already been on a submarine, a strategic bomber. You know your way around an Su-27 (fighter). But you have not yet been on the space station."

Putin smiled. "Only if it's on holiday."

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