U.S. space tourist ready to blast-off
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-30 19:45

The U.S. scientist slated to become the third non-astronaut to visit the international space station said Friday he was nervous ahead of the launch and defended his joining the expedition as a necessary step in the evolution of space flight, AP reported.

"I will feel most relaxed and most happy when the rocket is taking off," said American Gregory Olsen, whose trip reportedly costs $20 million. "This has been two years of very hard work. In 20 hours, I will feel very, very good."

With final preparations underway for Expedition 12, the orbiting station's next crew — Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev and U.S. astronaut William McArthur — joined with Olsen for last-minute medical checks and program reviews as engineers prepared to fuel the Russian-built Soyuz rocket.

Before entering quarantine, the three visited with their families and participated in several Russian preflight traditions, including watching the legendary Soviet-era film "White Sun of the Desert."

Page:

1

2

3

Close

Los Angeles fire Australia fending off bird flu Massive Indonesian vaccination drive against polio resumes

Today's Top News     Top World News
Court: Koizumi shrine visits unconstitutional         CPC to hold plenum in Beijing October 8-11         No US-China textile deal; more talks in Oct.         New flu pandemic could kill 150 million         American DVD piracy convict deported home         Laundering legislation to spread net wider	Court: Koizumi shrine visits unconstitutional       String of car bombs kills 99 in Iraq       Roberts takes oath as US chief justice       New flu pandemic could kill 150 million       String of car bombs kills 60 in Iraq       AP: China, US differ on North Korea nuke issues