Free Republic

DUBAI (Reuters) - Richard Branson's Virgin Group is on track to become the world's first commercial spaceline, with suborbital flights for space tourists due to start in 2008, the British billionaire said on Wednesday. In an interview with Reuters in Dubai, where his Virgin Atlantic (VA.UL: Quote, Profile, Research) airline began flights from London this week, Branson said other companies offering space travel had not matched the progress made by the Virgin Galactic venture. "A number of companies around the world are offering space travel but they haven't tested and built any space ships. They certainly haven't had test flights...

US "space tourist" Greg Olsen on Thursday extolled the virtues of sending private citizens into space after his return to earth this week, but warned that the training was not easy and hanging onto one's camera in orbit even harder. Olsen, who paid 20 million dollars (16.5 million euros) to the Virginia-based Space Adventures for his 10 days in space, told reporters at Russia's Star City training centre he hoped his example would kindle enthusiasm for science and space exploration.

There has been a successful blast off for the latest mission with a difference to the International Space station. The world's third space tourist is among the crew of three that has lifted off from the Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan. US businessman and scientist Greg Olsen has reportedly paid about 16.6 million euros for the place on board the Soyuz spacecraft. The crew is due to hook up with the international space station by Monday. Russian commander Valery Takarev and US astronaut William McArthur will replace two other astronauts who have been in orbit since April. They will...

Waiting in the Wings: Expedition 12, Space Tourist Olsen Prepare By Tariq Malik Staff Writer posted: 11 August 2005 06:44 am ET HOUSTON—As the crew of NASA’s space shuttle Discovery celebrates their safe return to Earth, two astronauts are gearing up for their own launch toward the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev are set to ride a Soyuz spacecraft to the station in October on the twelfth expedition to the ISS. McArthur will command ISS Expedition 12, with Tokarev serving as flight engineer. Physicist Gregory Olsen, a paying spaceflight participant whose trip...

David Lessick, an Air Force Reserve Major, has been recruited by AeraSpaceTours as the Chief Mission Commander of the Altairis Rocket which will begin taking passengers into space in 2006. In this role, he will follow in the footsteps of the other pioneer-astronauts and test pilots who made the dream of space flight possible for a fortunate few. "With safety being of paramount importance to us and to our customers, it is essential that our mission commander has the experience and abilities of Chief Mission Commander Lessick. We are pleased an officer of his caliber would join in our efforts...

HOUSTON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Rock star Lance Bass apparently has landed a seat aboard the upcoming flight of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station, the president of a television production firm working with Bass said Thursday. "He's part of the crew," David Krieff, president of Los Angeles-based Destiny Productions, said in an interview with United Press International. NASA said it has not yet received official word that Bass, a 23-year-old singer with the boy band N'Sync, will fly with two Russian cosmonauts on a Soyuz flight slated for launch Oct. 28. However, NASA mission managers...