Russia to launch scientist into space
Moscow Russia’s space agency has signed a deal that would make a U.S. millionaire scientist only the third tourist to visit the international space station, a spokesman said Wednesday.
The scientist, Gregory Olsen, could fly to the orbiting station as early as October, when the next Soyuz mission is scheduled to bring supplies and a new crew to the station, Vyacheslav Davidenko, a spokesman for the Russian agency, said Wednesday.
Olsen, the 60-year-old founder of a New Jersey-based infrared-camera maker, resumed training in May at a site just outside Moscow for the flight on a Russian-built Soyuz spaceship. He confirmed Wednesday that the contract had been signed.
“I’m feeling great and hopeful that I will launch this fall,” Olsen wrote in an e-mail exchange with an Associated Press reporter. “Training has been very intense, but enjoyable.”
The cost of the flight is $20 million, according to Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures of Arlington, Va., the company that signed the deal with Russia.
According to Olsen, the crew for his flight has not been officially announced, but he has worked with two other crew members in the Soyuz simulator over the past week. Part of that training, at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City near Moscow, included donning a pressurized space suit. Olsen also said he runs almost every morning.
Olsen works out regularly with a trainer, is an avid ballroom dancer and otherwise stays physically active.
His trip, originally scheduled for this April, had been on hold last summer because doctors in Russia found an undisclosed health problem during a physical exam.
Olsen, who holds advanced degrees in physics and materials science, has said he plans to bring along several of his company’s state-of-the-art infrared cameras to do science experiments.
Malta’s parliament ratifies EU constitution
Valletta, Malta Malta’s parliament unanimously ratified the European Union constitution Wednesday, adding another “yes” vote to the treaty whose future remains uncertain following rejections of the pact by French and Dutch voters.
The vote from the tiny Mediterranean island nation – about twice the size of Washington, D.C. – came after the opposition Labour Party decided to vote in favor of the constitution. “This new chapter offers many opportunities for the Maltese people and both sides were going forward together,” Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.
“Through its vote, Parliament is closing a long, controversial, divisive, chapter in its history and opening another where there is national support on European policy,” he said.
Wednesday’s vote came after a series of setbacks for the EU, including the French and Dutch rejection of the constitution and the collapse of budget talks at the EU summit in June.
Since then, debate has intensified within all 25 European Union nations over conflicting desires for strong social benefits – led by France – and tough economic reforms – led by Britain.
All 25 nations must ratify the charter for it to take effect, and – with the addition of Malta – 12 have already done so.