Russian millionaire considered for Soyuz flight
Posted: Thu, Jul 22, 2004, 11:12 PM ET (0312 GMT)
A Russian millionaire may fly on a Soyuz taxi flight to the ISS this fall as a space tourist, although Russian officials have not decided between him and a cosmonaut, MSNBC reported late Wednesday. Sergei Polonsky, a 31-year-old Russian businessman, had reported offered to pay to fly on a Soyuz taxi flight this October that will also bring a new two-man crew to the ISS. Polonsky has already completed some training, but earlier efforts by him to fly failed because of differences in price as well as concerns that he is about 6 cm taller that the maximum height of Soyuz crew members. Polonsky reportedly is in negotiations to fly at a bargain price of $8 million, reportedly because the seat opened up on short notice last month when Russian officials rejected American businessman Gregory Olsen on medical grounds. Olsen, who according to some previous reports was not even scheduled to fly to the ISS until next April, may be able to fly again next year. Polonsky is scheduled to visit Houston next week to train at NASA's Johnson Space Center along with Yuri Shargin, a rookie cosmonaut also being considered to fill the third seat.
A Russian millionaire may fly on a Soyuz taxi flight to the ISS this fall as a space tourist, although Russian officials have not decided between him and a cosmonaut, MSNBC reported late Wednesday. Sergei Polonsky, a 31-year-old Russian businessman, had reported offered to pay to fly on a Soyuz taxi flight this October that will also bring a new two-man crew to the ISS. Polonsky has already completed some training, but earlier efforts by him to fly failed because of differences in price as well as concerns that he is about 6 cm taller that the maximum height of Soyuz crew members. Polonsky reportedly is in negotiations to fly at a bargain price of $8 million, reportedly because the seat opened up on short notice last month when Russian officials rejected American businessman Gregory Olsen on medical grounds. Olsen, who according to some previous reports was not even scheduled to fly to the ISS until next April, may be able to fly again next year. Polonsky is scheduled to visit Houston next week to train at NASA's Johnson Space Center along with Yuri Shargin, a rookie cosmonaut also being considered to fill the third seat.
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