Space joyride

The first space tourist may visit the International Space Station in a few
months if Russian officials can reach an agreement with NASA next week. American
businessman Dennis Tito’s original destination was the doomed Mir, but Russian
space officials have pencilled him in for a ride with two cosmonauts on a Soyuz
“taxi” flight that will deliver a fresh lifeboat capsule to the ISS in early
May. A spokeswoman says NASA “has not received an official proposal”, but
expects the Russians “will raise the issue of Dennis Tito” at talks on
commercialising the Soyuz taxi fleet.