The first "space tourist"

January 31, 2001 11:57 AM

The first "space tourist" is scheduled be lifted to the ISS by the Russians, in exchange for millions of dollars, on 30 April.
posted by jammer (9 comments total)

Interesting guy. Apparently he's a former NASA JPL Scientist who turned his math skills to the financial industry.
posted by bkdelong at 12:20 PM on January 31, 2001

I think there are a lot of great things to tourism in space. This could bring new funding to areas of the space program where the government doesn't see the immediate need to pour money, giving a boost to space exploration as a whole.

When the time comes when we've got normal people vacationing in space, who's going to make the laws?
posted by tomorama at 12:56 PM on January 31, 2001

Personally, I'd favor some kind of joint effort like the UN, instead of a bakers dozen of countries fighting over who's in control.
posted by tomorama at 12:57 PM on January 31, 2001

When the time comes when we've got normal people vacationing in space, who's going to make the laws?

Whoever has a heat shield and a parachute.

-Mars
posted by Mars Saxman at 1:40 PM on January 31, 2001

Whoever has a heat shield and a parachute.

What about the children? Won't anybody think of the children??
posted by daveadams at 2:43 PM on January 31, 2001

Ok, fine, the children can BE the heat shield.
posted by Optamystic at 2:48 PM on January 31, 2001

So this guy paid some huge amount to go into space...does that mean I can pay 50 bucks and hitch a ride on the "Vomit Comet"? (Which is the plane Ron Howard used to capture the anti-gravity scenes in Apollo 13)

posted by JFunk2800 at 4:06 PM on January 31, 2001

When the time comes when we've got normal people vacationing in space, who's going to make the laws?

Nature?
posted by Neb at 4:22 PM on January 31, 2001

Good stuff, do they have to bring him back?
posted by RudeDog at 8:06 AM on February 21, 2001