TIM FURNISS / LONDON
Revenue from fare-paying tourists could help increase the number of crew aboard the International Space Station
NASA and the Russian space and aviation agency are expected to sign an agreement next month paving the way for fare-paying space tourists to visit the International Space Station (ISS).
The countries' space agencies have drafted criteria for the "space flight participants" programme, which Russia sees as a way of securing additional funds to increase the number of crew and volume of science performed at the station.
The agreement is expected to state that passengers undergo physical training, are able to speak Russian or English and pass a "personal suitability" test.
The agreement follows ill-feeling between the Russian and US agencies after the flight of the first tourist, American Dennis Tito, aboard a Russian Soyuz TM in April.
NASA felt that the flight was forced upon it, resulting in it banning further tourist flights.
South Africa-based Mark Shuttleworth, who is training at the cosmonaut training centre in Star City, could be the first "space flight participant".
Revenue from these Russian flights could help to increase the ISS crew. Russia has offered to provide two modules, including a back-up for cargo, an additional Soyuz TM ferry and other components to enable a crew increase from three to six by 2004.
Yuri Koptev, the Russian space agency's director, says: "Building up the station without increasing the number of crew means that no time is left for any science." He suggests that components funded partly by tourist revenues are a "less expensive" solution.
Meanwhile, the ISS third expedition crew has started work after arriving on the STS 105 Discovery mission, launched on 10 August. The crew will remain until December. Crew 2 were due to return in Discovery on 21 August.
Discovery delivered 3.5t of equipment to the station in the Italian Leonardo logistics module. The next shuttle mission to the ISS is set for late November.
Source: Flight International
