Posted: Sat, Apr 14, 2001, 10:29 AM ET (1429 GMT)
A final decision regarding whether California businessman Dennis Tito will be a member of a Soyuz crew to fly to the International Space Station later this month will be made Tuesday, according to AFP. The news agency reported Friday that Rosaviakosmos head Yuri Koptev and NASA administrator Dan Goldin will discuss Tito's presence as a member of the crew of the Soyuz taxi mission during a teleconference. Russia is showing no signs of backing away from its commitment to fly Tito, who is paying $20 million for the privilege. Indeed, during a ceremony Thursday marking the 40th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight, Russian president Vladimir Putin talked briefly with Tito and wished the American good luck on his flight, according to AFP. At the same time, NASA and other international partners are not backing down from their stance that Tito should not fly, given his lack of training and the high tempo of operations that will be taking place on ISS during the Soyuz crew's week-long stay.

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•  AFP article