. | . |
Tito To Take Space Taxi To ISS
A US businessman who has paid to be the first space tourist, Dennis Tito, will make his controversial flight to the International Space Station even in the absence of US approval, the Russian Space Agency said Monday. Tito "will travel to the space station no matter what," RSA spokesman Sergei Gorbunov said. "We will guarantee Mr. Tito's safety during the flight." His comments followed a statement by the US National Aeronatics and Space Administration (NASA) that talks were still under way on whether Tito would be allowed to make the trip. "Until the partners have reached a consensus, we are not able to confirm any of the reports," said Kirsten Larson, a NASA spokeswoman. "We have been talking with all the partners, including the Russians ... Things are not resolved." The NASA remarks contradicted earlier statements from the Russian agency that NASA and the Canadian, European and Japanese space agencies had reached an agreement by telephone on the eight-day journey into space. An RSA media official told AFP that RSA chief Yury Koptev and NASA administrator Daniel Goldin had held another telephone conversation later Monday to iron out "technical details" concerning the space flight, scheduled for Saturday. The official insisted that the European, Canadian and Japanese space agencies had agreed to Tito's inclusion in the flight crew. The International Space Station (ISS) is being built with the cooperation of the five agencies. The US agency for several weeks had maintained its objections to Tito, 60, travelling to the space station arguing that it was concerned about his level of training and noting the possible danger to the lives of the professional cosmonauts. The US businessman had paid around 20 million dollars (22 million euros) for the privilege of being taken into orbit aboard a Russian Proton rocket on Saturday. He was to have been taken to Russia's Mir space station, but when that orbiter was brought down to its destruction, he was switched to the new space platform. The ITAR-TASS news agency, quoting "informed sources", said NASA had given its approval after Tito signed two documents pledging not to take legal action against space station officials in the event that he should suffer an accident on board the space station, and to pay for any damage to equipment that he might cause. Tito and the two Russian cosmonauts he plans to accompany, team leader Talgat Musabayev and navigator Yury Baturin, arrived at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where they were undergoing final preparations. Russian television station ORT showed images of Tito, smiling and apparently fit, as he arrived at the installation with the two Russians. Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Russia Gives Tito A Green Light Washington - April 19, 2001 US commercial astronaut Dennis Tito and his two Russian crew mates will blast off for the Space Station from Baikonur at 07:37 GMT Saturday April 28. Rosaviacosmos, press spokesman Sergey Gorbunov said Dennis Tito will definitely be launched with the next crew to the Station, as planned. The question has been decided.
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |