MOSCOW, Russia, April 23, 2007 - Satnews Daily - Andy Williams’ hit song of the 1960s is being given a new spin by space tourism company, Space Adventures.
After sending five civilian space tourists to the International Space Station (ISS) for $25 million apiece, Space Adventures said its newest out of this world service—a trip to the Moon for $200 million—has received its first applicants.
Yes, its first applicants. Two first applicants to be exact.
Space Adventures vice president Chris Faranetta confirms that two private citizens (nationality undisclosed) will pony up a cool $100 million apiece to become the first civilians to fly around the Moon and back. The launch vehicle will be Russian. Faranetta expects the company’s first circumlunar Moon Tourists to take the lunar cruise in 2012 if the project is funded this year.
He said that exactly when the first investment will be made depends on the Russian Federal Space Agency (or Roscosmos) and Energia space corporation since Space Adventures does operate any launchers or spacecraft.
Two options are being considered for the Moon tourist flight: one will see the crew launched on a Soyuz vehicle that will dock with a transfer stage in orbit and travel to the Moon. The other option would be to assemble a lunar vehicle on the ISS.
