Russia announces second space tourist!

Internet tycoon to become second space tourist

Russia's top space official says his agency has wrapped up a deal with a South African Internet tycoon to fly to the International Space Station.

Nasa confirmed it had agreed to the plan despite a rift with Washington when Russia first sold a seat on the station to a non-professional earlier this year.

But the United States did not object this time, according to Russian Aerospace Agency director Yuri Koptev. He said: "We have the understanding of our partners."

Mark Shuttleworth, 27, is set to become the second "space tourist" to fly to the station, arriving in a Russian Soyuz rocket next April, Mr Koptev said.

Nasa spokeswoman Kirsten Larson said the United States has agreed to let Shuttleworth fly. "We have agreed in principle, but there are still some parts of the deal that we need to finalise," she said.

The Cape Town native underwent a month of tests and training at the Star City cosmonaut training centre outside Moscow earlier this year.

Mr Koptev said the contract with Shuttleworth would be signed within days. He refused to disclose what Shuttleworth was paying but said it was "no worse" for Russia than the earlier deal with California tycoon Dennis Tito.

Mr Tito reportedly paid Russia $20 million for an eight-day trip to the space station in April and May.

"I have always dreamed of space as a platform for inspiration, education and technology, and am working to realise that dream for South Africa," Mr Shuttleworth said in a statement released in South Africa.

Mr Shuttleworth started a business trading in Internet security technologies in his parents' garage. Last year the company was bought by the US company Verisign, netting Mr Shuttleworth an estimated $500 million.


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all it takes is ALOT of money!

rH