Sergey Alexandrovich Gorbunov (L), the press secretary of the Russian
Aviation and Space Agency, speaks with Dennis Tito (C), the first
private funded citizen to fly in space, and Eric Anderson, the
president and chief executive officer of Space Adventures, before a
press conference in New York on June 18, 2003 where they announced
plans to send two tourists into space in early 2005. The tourists will
pay $20 million for an eight-ten day trip to the International Space
Station. REUTERS/Peter Morgan

PM 

Mark Shuttleworth (R), the first African in space, waves as he is welcomed back to Cape Town during a parade through the city's streets, June 10, 2002. Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United Kingdom recently spent 8 days aboard the international sace station, becoming the world's second paying space visitor after [Dennis Tito] of the United States. 

Mark Shuttleworth (R), the first African in space, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko (L) wave as they are welcomed back to Cape Town during a parade through the city's streets, June 10, 2002. Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United Kingdom recently spent 8 days aboard the international sace station, becoming the world's second paying space visitor after [Dennis Tito] of the United States. 

Mark Shuttleworth, the first African in space, is welcomed back to Cape Town by a local flower seller during a parade through the city's streets, June 10, 2002. Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United Kingdom, recently spent 8 days aboard the international space station, becoming the world's second paying space visitor after [Dennis Tito] of the United States. 

Crowds of children cheer Mark Shuttleworth, the first African in space,
as he is welcomed back to Cape Town during a parade through the city's
streets, June 10, 2002. Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United
Kingdom recently spent 8 days aboard the international sace station,
becoming the world's second paying space visitor after Dennis Tito of
the United States. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings REUTERS

MH/ 

Mark Shuttleworth, the first African in space, is welcomed back to Cape
Town by a local flower seller during a parade through the city's
streets, June 10, 2002. Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United
Kingdom recently spent 8 days aboard the international sace station,
becoming the world's second paying space visitor after Dennis Tito of
the United States. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings REUTERS

MH/ 

Mark Shuttleworth (R), the first African in space, waves as he is
welcomed back to Cape Town during a parade through the city's streets,
June 10, 2002. Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United Kingdom
recently spent 8 days aboard the international sace station, becoming
the world's second paying space visitor after Dennis Tito of the United
States. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings REUTERS

MH/ 

Mark Shuttleworth (R), the first African in space, and Russian
cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko (L) wave as they are welcomed back to Cape Town
during a parade through the city's streets, June 10, 2002.
Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United Kingdom recently spent 8 days
aboard the international sace station, becoming the world's second
paying space visitor after Dennis Tito of the United States.
REUTERS/Mike Hutchings REUTERS

MH/ 

Mark Shuttleworth, the first African in space, is welcomed back to Cape
Town by a local flower seller during a parade through the city's
streets, June 10, 2002. Shuttleworth, who now lives in the United
Kingdom, recently spent 8 days aboard the international space station,
becoming the world's second paying space visitor after Dennis Tito of
the United States. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings REUTERS

MH/ 

Space tourist Dennis Tito waits to testify before a congressional subcommittee on space tourism on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 26, 2001. Tito paid the Russians to take him into space. 

Space tourist Dennis Tito waits to testify before a congressional subcommittee on space tourism on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 26, 2001. Tito paid the Russians to take him into space.

WP/HK 

Space tourist Dennis Tito (L) and Astronaut Buzz Aldrin (R) shake hands before a congressional subcommittee on space tourism in Washington June 26, 2001. Tito paid $20 million for the Russians to take him into space.

WP/MMR 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) chief Daniel Goldin speaks during a Reuters interview at NASA's headquarters in Washington D.C. May 24, 2001. NASA's relations with Russia are still recovering from a "symmetry of mistrust" that festered over California businessman Dennis Tito's flight to the International Space Station, Goldin said during the interview. NASA and other partners in the International Space Station had strenuously objected when the Russians said they would send Tito aboard a Soyuz taxi flight to the station. Tito reportedly paid $20 million to the cash-strapped Russian agency.

MMR/TRA 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) chief Daniel Goldin speaks during a Reuters interview in his ninth-floor office at NASA's headquarters in Washington D.C. May 24, 2001. NASA's relations with Russia are still recovering from a "symmetry of mistrust" that festered over California businessman Dennis Tito's flight to the International Space Station, Goldin said during the interview. NASA and other partners in the International Space Station had strenuously objected when the Russians said they would send Tito aboard a Soyuz taxi flight to the station. Tito reportedly paid $20 million to the cash-strapped Russian agency.

MMR/TRA 

Dennis Tito, the world's first space tourist, poses for a picture with his friend Dawn Abraham during a ceremony in Star City outside Moscow, May 16, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts, Yuri Baturin and Talgat Musabayev, attended a meeting marking the rehabilitation of the crew after their recent flight to ISS. Tito sports a hat presented to him by Russian Na-Na rock group.

CVI/AA 

Dennis Tito, the world's first space tourist, tastes traditional bread and salt during a ceremony in Star City outside MoscowW May 16, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts, Yuri Baturin and Talgat Musabayev, returned recently from a flight to the International Space Station.

CVI 

Space traveler, U.S. businessman Dennis Tito, speaks during a press conference May 9, 2001 in Los Angeles. Tito became the first space tourist spending several days on the international space station.

FB/ME 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito looks gives a news conference in Star City outside Moscow, May 8, 2001. Tito said that the most poignant moment of his trip to International Space Station (ISS) was a conversation with his family back on Earth via a ham radio link.

CVI/FMS 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gestures during a news conference in Star City outside Moscow, May 8, 2001. Tito said that the most poignant moment of his trip to International Space Station (ISS) was a conversation with his family back on Earth via a radio link.

CVI/CRB 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito receives a traditional bread and salt after arriving in Chkalovsky airport near the Star City outside Moscow, May 6, 2001. An exhilarated Tito made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday and said he had just returned from paradise. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito smiles as he holds flowers inside a bus driving him from the airport to the Star City outside Moscow, May 6, 2001. An exhilarated Tito made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday and said he had just returned from paradise. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gestures as he speaks inside a plane heading to Chkalovsky airport near the Star City, May 6, 2001. An exhilarated Tito made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday and said he had just returned from paradise. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito (L) and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Baturin (C) watch the Expedition Two Commander Yuri Usachev (2L) as he waves, while cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev (3R) speaks to Flight Engineers Jim Voss (2R) and Susan Helms (R) aboard the International Space Station before undocking, May 6, 2001. The world's first paying space tourist Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito (L) prepares to shake hands with the Expedition Two Flight Engineer Jim Voss (R) as Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev (2R) and Yuri Baturin (C) look at Expedition Two Commander Yuri Usachev (2L) aboard the International Space Station before undocking, May 6, 2001. The world's first paying space tourist Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito waves as he stands on an all-terrain vehicle before boarding the helicopter to Astana, after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (2L) stands with the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito (L) and Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev (2R) and Yuri Baturin as they stand in Astana airport May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gestures after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

Russian space specialists run to the landing capsule of Soyuz-TM31 with cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev, Yuri Baturin and the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito after its landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The landing capsule of Soyuz-TM31 with Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev, Yuri Baturin and the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito lies on the ground of a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west of Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

Russian space specialists help the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito after he landed in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito (L) and Russian cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev (C) juggle apples watched by Yuri Baturin as they rest after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gives thumbs up after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito waves from inside the landing capsule after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. The world's first paying space tourist Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gives a thumbs-up after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. The world's first paying space tourist Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gives a thumbs-up after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. The world's first paying space tourist Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gestures after landing in a
remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and
two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe
ending an historic voyage that cost Tito $14million. REUTERS/Shamil
Zhumatov

AS 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito receives a traditional bread and salt after arriving in Chkalovsky airport near the Star City outside Moscow, May 6, 2001. An exhilarated Tito made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday and said he had just returned from paradise.

CVI 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito smiles as he holds flowers inside a bus driving him from the airport to the Star City outside Moscow, May 6, 2001. An exhilarated Tito made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday and said he had just returned from paradise.

CVI 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gestures as he speaks inside a plane heading to Chkalovsky airport near the Star City, May 6, 2001. An exhilarated Tito made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday and said he had just returned from paradise.

CVI 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito waves as he stands on an all-terrain vehicle before boarding the helicopter to Astana, after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI 

KAZAKH PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV STANDS WITH U.S. SPACE TOURIST TITO AND RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS BATURIN AND MUSABAYEV IN ASTANA.


Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (2L) stands with the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito (L) and Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev (2R) and Yuri Baturin as they stand in Astana airport May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat. 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gestures after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI/CRB 

Russian space specialists run to the landing capsule of Soyuz-TM31 with cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev, Yuri Baturin and the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito after its landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI 

Russian space specialists help the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito after he landed in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI/CRB 

The landing capsule of Soyuz-TM31 with Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev, Yuri Baturin and the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito lies on the ground of a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west of Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito gives thumbs up after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito (L) and Russian cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev (C) juggle apples watched by Yuri Baturin as they rest after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI/CRB 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito waves from inside the landing capsule after landing in a remote Kazakh steppe some 300km west from Astana May 6, 2001. The world's first paying space tourist Tito and two Russian cosmonauts made a text-book landing on the Kazakh steppe early on Sunday, ending an historic voyage marred by a bitter Russia-U.S. spat.

SZH/CVI/CRB 

The world's first space tourist Dennis Tito (C) answers journalists' questions on board the International Space Station together with the Russians Talgat Musabayev (R) and Yuri Baturin (L), May 4, 2001. Tito and the two Russian cosmonauts accompanying him have spent almost a week on board the ISS. 

The space shuttle Endeavour deploys its drag chute after it glided in for a landing at Edwards Air Force base in the Mojave Desert in California, May 1, 2001. [The orbiter, which had just completed a mission to install the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station, left just prior to the arrival of the first space tourist, Dennis Tito.] 

The space shuttle Endeavour leaves smoke from its tires as it glides in for a landing at Edwards Air Force base in the Mojave Desert in California, May 1, 2001. [The orbiter, which had just completed a mission to install the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station, left just prior to the arrival of the first space tourist, Dennis Tito.] 

The space shuttle Endeavour glides in for a landing at Edwards Air Force base in the Mojave Desert in California, May 1, 2001. [The orbiter, which had just completed a mission to install the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station, left just prior to the arrival of the first space tourist, Dennis Tito.] 

The space shuttle Endeavour glides in for a landing at Edwards Air Force base in the Mojave Desert in California, May 1, 2001. [The orbiter, which had just completed a mission to install the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station, left just prior to the arrival of the first space tourist, Dennis Tito.] 

The television still shows the world's first space tourist Dennis Tito aboard the International Space Station (ISS) May 1, 2001. Tito, aboard the ISS, pledged to encourage others to follow his example and said one need not to be a "superhuman" to go into space. 

American space tourist Dennis Tito (R) talks to mission control aboard the International Space Station April 30, 2001, after arriving aboard the space capsule Soyuz. Tito, a 60-year-old California investment broker who paid $20 million for his trip into space, is joined by Russian Commander Yuri Usachev, red shirt, American flight engineer Susan Helms, front, and Russians Talgat Musabayev, top right, and Yuri Baturin, top left. 

The worlds first space tourist Dennis Tito (L) plays with a ball depicting the earth on his arrival on board the International Space Station together with the Russians Talgat Musabayev (2nd L) and Yuri Baturin (3rd L), April 30, 2001 and stations Russian commander Yuri Usachev (2nd R) welcomes them. Tito and the two Russian cosmonauts accompanying him will spend a week as guests of Usachev and his two American crewmates on board the ISS. 

The International Space Station floats above the Earth after Space Shuttle Endeavour undocked from it to return home following a completed mission, April 29, 2001. The first tourist in orbit was expected to reach his holiday destination on time on Monday after NASA moved the Space Shuttle Endeavour out of the way, clearing a path to the International Space Station. A Russian mission control duty officer said by telephone that the Soyuz space ship carrying California millionaire Dennis Tito and two Russian cosmonauts would dock on time, after NASA cut loose Endeavour and sent it heading toward home on April 29.

ME 

The International Space Station floats over the Earth's horizon after Space Shuttle Endeavour undocked from it to return home following a completed mission, April 29, 2001. The first tourist in orbit was expected to reach his holiday destination on time on Monday after NASA moved the Space Shuttle Endeavour out of the way, clearing a path to the International Space Station. A Russian mission control duty officer said by telephone that the Soyuz space ship carrying California millionaire Dennis Tito and two Russian cosmonauts would dock on time, after NASA cut loose Endeavour and sent it heading toward home on April 29.

ME 

The International Space Station floats in space after the Space Shuttle Endeavour undocked from it to return home, April 29, 2001. The first tourist in orbit was expected to reach his holiday destination on time on Monday after NASA moved the Space Shuttle Endeavour out of the way, clearing a path to the International Space Station. A Russian mission control duty officer said by telephone that the Soyuz space ship carrying California millionaire Dennis Tito and two Russian cosmonauts would dock on time, after NASA cut loose Endeavour and sent it heading toward home on April 29.

ME 

The space shuttle Endeavour undocks from the International Space Station (seen in the back) to return home after completing its mission, April 29, 2001. The first tourist in orbit was expected to reach his holiday destination on time on Monday after NASA moved the Space Shuttle Endeavour out of the way, clearing a path to the International Space Station. A Russian mission control duty officer said by telephone that the Soyuz space ship carrying California millionaire Dennis Tito and two Russian cosmonauts would dock on time, after NASA cut loose Endeavour and sent it heading toward home on April 29.

ME