Russia has decided to go ahead with the launch of a craft with space tourist, Dennis Tito, on board. But a senior Russian space official made it clear that the decision could be reconsidered hours before the planned launch on Saturday if Russian and US experts failed to fix ISS computer problems which emerged on Tuesday. The millionaire financier and former NASA engineer has paid $20m for the privilege of travelling aboard the Russian mission.
Speaking from behind a glass partition, Mr Tito said: "I can tell you that the training was tough, but they told me that the flight would be easier. The training was most difficult. It was made more difficult by political problems." NASA says that it is unsafe to have a tourist on a station which still under construction, and has demanded that a professional astronaut should accompany him at all times when he is in the American sector of the ISS.
Russian crew commander Talgat Musabayev believes that the flight has become too politicised. "In connection with the political fuss which took place, some people started suspecting it (computer glitches) was done deliberately," he said. "Of course we realise this is wrong." The Russian flight is scheduled to lift off at 0737 GMT on Saturday from the Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan.
